F. Hoare

Spirit-Possession in Fiji: The Pastoral Challenges of Discerning and Healing

Mission studies June 1, 2023 F. Hoare

Spirit possession provokes two common responses: exorcism rites or medical treatment. Drawing on pastoral experiences in Fiji's two major cultures, this paper examines possession types through social anthropology, psychology, and theology. Understanding local cosmology and pastoral discernment are important, especially for ancestor possession common in indigenous Fijian culture. The pastoral worker's character and relationship with the patient, along with religious ritual and symbol, aid healing. An accurate diagnosis may require combining spirituality, psychology, and socio-cultural analysis.