Demonic possession documented by psychiatrist
By Psyche | March 16, 2008
An American woman who levitated, demonstrated paranormal psychic powers and spoke foreign languages unknown to her was clearly demon possessed, according to a board-certified psychiatrist and associate professor of clinical psychiatry at New York Medical College.
WorldNetDaily.com, “Real-life case of demon possession documented“
Richard E. Gallagher, a certified psychiatrist in New York and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at New York Medical College, documented the case in “A Case of Demonic Possession” for the New Oxford Review. The article is described as follows:
“Amid widespread confusion and skepticism about the subject, the chief goal of this article is to document a contemporary and clear-cut case of demonic possession. Even those who doubt such a phenomenon exists may find the following example rather persuasive. For clergy, or indeed anyone involved in the spiritual or psychological care of others, it is equally critical, however, to recognize the many and infinitely more common “counterfeits” (i.e., false assignations) of demonic influence or attack as well. ”
New Oxford Review, “A Case of Demonic Possession“
The woman is reported as having “a long history of involvement with Satanic groups”, though no specifics are given as to which brand of Satanism she was involved with.
She was observed levitating by priests, deacons, lay assistants, psychiatrists, nuns, while objects flew about the rooom.
“The exorcism began on a warm day in June,” Gallagher recollects. “Despite the weather, the room where the rite was being conducted grew distinctly cold. Later, however, as the entity in Julia began to spout vitriol and make strange noises, members of the team felt themselves profusely sweating due to a stifling emanation of heat. The participants all said they found the heat unbearable.”
It’s It would be a remarkable thing to see taken seriously, were it not for the points outlined by Mod in the comments section below. Alas.
The full article is available for purchase for a mere 1.50$US from the New Oxford Review.
Thanks to Lex for bringing this to my attention last night.
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I don’t see this as being taken seriously just yet. The New Oxford Review is a Catholic based site and WND is Christian Nutterville. Even Richard E Gallagher is not free from this bias, he is as described: “the only American psychiatrist to have been a consistent U.S. delegate to the International Association of Exorcists”.
I’m going with David Hume on this one: `That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavours to establish; and even in that case there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior.’ When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened.
Ah, wishful thinking. It would be good to see a western case of possession and exorcism (of any variety) seriously documented by professionals.
Not a professional?? He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University, magna cum laude in Classics, and trained in Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine. sheesh. You’re tough to please.
Professional, perhaps, but how seriously will the conclusions be taken?
Mod
“When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened.”
This is perfectly reasonable. From our human experience it must be more probable that a deception took place. However, please remember “more probable” is not a closed and definitive answer. The next stage is to look at the evidence. If you are open to the truth then even the fantastic is on the table as a possibility. There cannot be rejection based on probability measured only by our natural experience. If this is the rule by which man lives then do we not exclude or blind ourselves to the supernatural? In effect have we not built ourselves a pair of spectacles through which only what is natural to us is disclosed. Have we not made an assumption that only the natural is possible. In other words are we not blinded by the dogma of the religion of naturalism?
This reminds me of the systematic theology that was all the rage in the last century. Biblical scholars decided to strip the activities and life of Jesus of any supernatural activities. They then solemnly declared that he was just a normal if very smart man. They forgot that it was his exceptional activities that forced sensible men to say – yes I believe. They claim he is God because of what they saw and heard. Because what they saw was so exceptional and beyond their own natural experience. They knew what was natural, they encountered someone quite fantastic. They followed Him and heard him speak about everlasting life. When he was killed they fled and denied him, afraid for their own lives. Even though they had witnessed astonishing miracles (even his enemies witnessed these but said it was not from God), the death of Christ was a dead end even for them his witnesses. Now, something happened to change their behaviour and beliefs. Something so strange that men, cowardly hiding in a room exploded out into the world with a claim, a great blasphemy in their Jewish tradition. A claim that they happily gave their very lives for. He is risen, as He said. In the Talmud, the Jews claim the apostles stole the body. Would you risk life and limb for what you know to be a lie? Not even a probable lie but a most improbable lie? They must have been a laughing stock amongst their contemporaries.
So what’s my point. The point is the behaviour of these men who were the first witnesses is very strange. It can reasonably be assumed that they were convinced of the truth they were preaching. So convinced that death itself held no fear for them. They were either deluded or they speak the truth. So a reasonably open mind would now turn to Jesus of the Gospels. It would take a look at this man of whom it is claimed he is God. A reasonably open mind would look closely not with the stupidity of childhood ideas of Christ and God and all the pap we carry around as background noise, but as He is in the Gospels. The real adult questions about what is reality, does man have a mission, what is this life and how am I supposed to live it. What is my only real enemy and how do I fight it. Christ taught us all these things. In fact, through out the last 2000 years of history the greatest minds have tackled these very questions and indeed have tackled this Christ. You would be quite unwise to assume you have put him to bed along time ago with your teddy bears when minds far more superior than yours (no disrespect to you) have come to the statement – Yes Lord I believe. It is very difficult for people to free their thinking from the boundaries and beliefs that restrict their vision of truth in the time periods in which they live. I would recommend this book to you to give you a little help. You might not be able to assimilate its ideas and perspectives. If you are able, I promise you a read that will have you rolling on the floor laughing as deception after deception is uncovered and your eyes start to see reality. Yes it is an apologetic for Catholicism however, ignore this aspect. The author can do what very few people in the history of mankind have managed. Read him for his mind. Go with him in his mind as he takes you through his logic. If there are parts you do not understand then pass on but keep reading. If you have asked yourself the serious questions in life and have struggled to understand reality, this book will be a very interesting journey for you.
Book: Orthodoxy
Author: GK Chesterton
As regards this article. I expect it is true. Demonic possession is reasonably well documented.
As regards levitation, we’ve had Saints who levitated, Joseph of Cupertino, Padre Pio, St Teresa of Avila. Of course it is exceptional. The activity indicates a suspension of the order implicit in nature. We quite understand that material bodies subject to the laws of gravity do not levitate without an external force. Since levitation is occuring and there are no natural sources of force causing it then the logical assumption to make is that there is a force acting outside the natural order. The sword of truth cuts. It divides perfectly. You either stand with Christ or in opposition to him. You are either pro-Christ or anti- Christ. All the other characteristics of this case indicate the force is malign and therefore anti- Christ? Therefore it must be demonic.
May God Bless you.
Benfan
Wow, a lot to cover there.
1. Yes, we should look at the evidence. The evidence we have is that a highly biased source claims that a highly unlikely event took place. Even if we accept that the fantastic is possible – the mundane explanation of confirmation bias/hallucination/wishful thinking or deceit are massively more likely that an exorcism actually happen to have been observed by a pro-exorcism writer.
2. Naturalism isn’t a religion by any sane definition of the term. It is a monistic metaphysical position – and while it could be argued that in a neutral monistic fashion, some religions are naturalistic (such as animism), relgions are usually under the umbrella of supernaturalistic metaphysics (often dualist in nature).
3. Many people have been forced to say ‘I believe’ when confronted with certain things in the past. Christ is not unique in this regard. Let me refer you to David Koresh or L Ron Hubbard.
4. There are no contemporary records of Yeshua of Nazareth having done anything astonishing at all. As we know, if we don’t look at things in a childish way as you recommend, that there are no surviving Aramaic accounts…they are all in Greek and date some 50 years after the event.
5. The Gospels are massively inconsistent, placing important things such as the date of birth and the date of death in different historical contexts relative to different events – some of which have no independent record of occurring (certain censuses for example), as well as describing customs and practices which simply did not happen during Jesus’ lifetime – the freeing of one prisoner tradition for example.
6. There are many known Gospels, and there is clear evidence that sometimes significant additions and editing has taken place (Mark 16:9-20 for example are certainly recent additions). In all the different surviving copies of the Gospels, there are more differences between them than there are words within them.
7. Given these last few items, the reliability of the Bible for recording extraordinary events is highly questionable.
8. I would die for something I knew to be a lie, if I knew that lie was ultimately for the good. Even for something seemingly trivial like to protect my family. Nevertheless, most of the people who came into contact with the Gospels did not think it was a lie. Presumably even the writers thought it was true – word of mouth and urban legends can do that…even/especially forbidden, taboo or
blasphemous ones (they are the best ones!)
9. I concede that more intelligent minds than mine have accepted the truth of Christianity, just as you must concede more intelligent minds than your own have rejected it. That argument is clearly a wash out and gets us nowhere.
10. I have seen many an ‘argument by Chesterton’ and have so far been failed to impress. I don’t feel like paying to be disappointed by more of the same apologetics I’ve heard a million times before. Maybe one day, when I have read all the good books I want to read – as well as a few I don’t but feel I should anyway, I’ll get round to it…it’s a very long list and I only have half a century or so left to finish it.
11. I have found to date, no reasonable documentation of Demonic Possession. Most of the time, I hear of people with autism and epilepsy who get treated badly by superstitious idiots and the rest of the time I get hearsay evidence about an Uncle’s friend had a cousin who was possessed and so on.
12. The levitation thing is more of the same, and once again reference to Hume fits in here here quite nicely. Joseph of Cupertino didn’t levitate – he flew. There is more reliable documentary evidence of Christopher Reeve flying than old Joe. If I was to believe every 17th Century legend, this world would be fantastical indeed – and yet in a world of portable cameras, a worldwide media and CCTV, we’ve not manage to capture good footage of such a thing. As a point I will reference the fact that Pope Urban VIII was his chief witness, the same Pope that had *words* with Galileo. Yeah, he’s the kind of guy whose grip on reality I’d put my trust in.
13. If the dichotomy is pro-Christ or anti-Christ then I am anti-Christ. You skipped passed the argument where that renders something demonic though I suspect it relies on believing that demons exist and are not pro-Christ. All the indications in this case would indicate that Richard E. Gallagher is trying to curry favour with the Catholics and pro-exorcism crowd, which will in turn lead to the selling of books and a book tour and happy lecture circuit. If that renders him anti-Christ then so be it.
May your time experiencing reality be enjoyable,
Mod
I am by no means an expert in theology, but it is foolish for man think he to deny there is little or no higher creator then elements. I gave up belonging to churches along time ago, I do believe in Christianity , but its my own bastardized belief. What I find puzzling is when dealing with negative entities, it always appears that the strongest way to rid a person/family is through prayers to st.mike (whom I just adore) I believe there are and has been physical possession/ evil spirits and such. A real convincing report for myself was the possession of Analise, you can hear and felt the evil and hatred in various voices which I really find hard to debunk along with why a simple family would allow this to be published after the death of there child. Google this and listen to various nasty grunts screams. No logical parent would allow that type of warfare to happen to a child. I have been a lay ghost hunter, and would never mislead people because of my strong belief in honesty and integrity. I have recently went to an area where their have been much folklore regarding haunted site in the 70s, and then in the 1800s, I was shocked to hear what i heard and shocked again with the pics i took. I have a real unexplainable pic of a ghost, here is the funny part, it looks like a classic booh ghost. I was with 2 people, complete skeptics, its on an island only we were the only ones there, i did everything to debunk and had no efforts in doing so. I will share then with all of you, I must get then scanned and put on pc first, i am to busy looking for the unexplained lol. I do give credit to the bible, I am unaware of something that has touched the world for thousands of years, Im including all other related persian/asian/greek books.I have worked as a social worker for first nation peoples way up in northern Canada, they have very strong convictions in a creator, way before the bible was ever introduced to them, along with the 10 commandments, and just a being a good grateful person. There beliefs are not word for word like the bible, but the belief in karma, soul, a creator or father/ mother, heaven and hell, evil spirits. Anyways, I hope all are watch over by the creator, btw, its really funny how we pull God out of our pocket when all else has failed, another btw, if you ever lose anything, keys, money, pet whatever, say st. Anthony please help me find what I lost. Honestly, try it , st. Anthony has never let me down, when ever i tell anyone that, believer, agnostic, it matters not, i get a phone call saying holy smokes it worked! so, really try, you will find what you lost but you kinda gota believe me if you dont believe or know st.Anthony. You will all have laugh when you post that girl that wrote a comment, tell her it really worked!
PEACE,LIGHT,LOVE
AnGeLa St.JeAn