Spirit Possession and Exorcism

A two-volume work reviews spirit possession across history and cultures, from the upper Paleolithic era to the present, examining cases where individuals appear overtaken by an unseen entity that replaces their soul, causing symptoms like levitation, speaking in tongues, and physical distortion. It addresses phenomenological, psychological, and neurobiological aspects, as well as societal effects. Volume one covers historical periods, while volume two focuses on case studies and exorcism rites.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This two-volume text reviews spirit possession throughout history, analyzes case studies from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, and examines rites for exorcism. From the beginning of civilization to the present day, and across all major religions and cultures, there have been documented cases of people seemingly overtaken by an unseen entity. The invading force—whether good or bad—appears to replace the possessor's soul with the spirit's own persona, resulting in mystifying symptoms such as levitation or other supernatural feats, speaking in tongues, and even horrific and inexplicably accelerated physical distortion and deterioration. This is a two-volume chronological history and examination of spirit possession that addresses its phenomenological, psychological, and neurobiological aspects, and its effects on societies. Volume one reviews spirit possession from the upper Paleolithic era to modern times, while Volume two focuses on case studies and rites of exorcism.