Demon possession? In 2014? Seriously?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My father belongs to a Pentecostal denomination and is terribly devout. After retirement, when he was healthier, it was not unusual for him to go to services five times in a week (Sunday and Thursday mornings, plus Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday evenings). He has more trouble getting around now, so occasionally I take him, with the understanding that I’m just being his chauffeur and he sjhouldn’t expect me to do anything other than to refrain from calling bullshit.

Last Wednesday I took him to church. As is my wont I occupied myself during most of the service by reading. Though I’d pretty much zoned out on Donna Tartt, I was drawn out of my reverie by a young woman’s impassioned “testimony.” This, for those of you not from the Pentecostal tradition, is a part of the service in which people stand up and either praise God for the good things in their life or ask for spiritual help for trials they’re going through. The young woman in question was doing the latter. She had a young daughter, it seemed–no more than seven–who is more than a handful: not simply disobedient, but violent to others and self-harming to herself. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to make y’all ill.

Now a rational group of people, living in America in the 21st century, would see such behavior and think, “This child needs psychiatric attention and possibly a social worker, because either there’s something wrong with her brain chemistry or somebody is abusing her.” But this story isn’t about rational people. It’s about members of the Church of God in Christ, which is another way of saying they’re freaking idiots and frequently assholes. The woman testifying blamed her problems on demon possession. DEMON POSSESSION. And the pastor, who is under 60 and really should know better, seemed to agree. He paused the service there and had the mother drag the child in question to the altar so he could lay hands on her, further commanding everyone in the congregation to join him as he assayed to expel Beelzebub from the poor kid. She wasn’t misbehaving just then,by the way. She seemed terrified, which is not unreasonable when there were about two dozen people gathered around her chanting and praying and dancing rhythmlessly and speaking in “tongues” while her mommy and the pastor kept telling her that she is enthralled to a spirit of undying evil, just like Mumm-Ra from the Thundercats.

This went on for, oh, ten or fifteen minutes. When they finished, and before resuming the service, the pastor said that he believed the little girl had been delivered, but if she hadn’t been they would keep doing the rite till she was better.

Jackasses. Stupid, ignorant, obscurantist assholes.

2

I mean, maybe I’m overreacting, but I’d be calling CPS so fast.

3

You’re not overreacting. But do you mean you’d call CPS to get the child some help, or to get the church in hot water?

I don’t know the mother’s last name, or the child’s name. I actually did call someone with the county, but she wasn’t hopeful she could do much.

4

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, if I were a church-goer, this is the kind I would go to. I think it sounds a lot of fun whoopin’ and hollerin’ and bein’ slain in the spirit.

But, yeah, more to the point of the OP. . . poor kid.

5

Both?

If the child is a danger to herself and others, then someone with actual medical and therapeutic training needs to be involved. I don’t subscribe to the notion that children’s medical needs area subservient to the philosophies of their parents. And the more churches who get their hands slapped for offering bullshit laying on of hands in lieu of actual and effective medical attention and therapy, the better. I want to get a t-shirt made that says “Prayer: It’s literally the least you could do.”

6

Officials might not be willing to get their hands dirty over a single report, so take it to the newspapers and television stations. Bad PR can sometimes work wonders when it comes to motivating local politicians.

7

But it’s unlikely to change many beliefs in demon possession.

8

But it might shine a little light on the predicament of that one child.

9

Obligatory link: Women charged over “exorcism” deaths of two children.

10

My friends, I don’t like this any more than you do, but legally, that barbaric ritual is something the government cannot touch. The girl was not beaten or sexually abused, and the stupid ritual is constitutionally protected free exercise of religion.

11

Stories like this always remind me that the current governor of Louisiana once participated in an “exorcism.”
http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/bobby-jindal-the-exorcist-pro-or-con/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

12

I think if it’s reached the point where she’s engaged in self-harm, and the mother’s only response is to take her to be exorcised, it’s medical neglect of a child. And if it’s not, it should be.

13

Gee, I wonder who you might be the advocate for, hmm?

14

I’m pretty sure that SCOTUS has ruled extreme forms of religious rituals, such as human sacrifice, are not protected by the First Amendment – so why protect a ritual that’s arguably even worse?

15

Because said argument would be absolutely moronic? You actually think praying for someone publicly for an extended period is somehow worse than murdering them?

Now, if the woman is not getting her kid the psychiatric help she needs, I guess I could stretch and see the argument, but that would not be a problem with the ritual itself.

And note, even as a Pentecostal myself, I would still be trying to get this girl medical and psychiatric help.

16

Newton? :slight_smile:

17

Murder may be more painful, but at least it ends quickly. Psychological abuse lasts your entire life.

18

I feel exceedingly bad for any young child who gets singled out like that. But it’s not illegal, or even immoral, to ask your church to pray for your child. The particular *form *of prayer may seem ooky to people outside their religion, but that’s all it is. You don’t know one single thing about these people except that they’re members of your dad’s church and they pray weirdly. You don’t know that the mother isn’t seeking psychological help for the child in *addition *to praying for her.

You’re suspicious, you reported it, that’s all you can or should do.

I don’t think prosecution for medical neglect extends to failure to treat psychological conditions, although I’d love to be proven wrong. She could go to three different psychiatrists and get three different diagnoses. It’s not like failing to take your child to the doctor over a broken leg or cancer. I agree it’s worth CPS taking a look-see, but I doubt anything will come of it.

Lest I be accused of white-knighting, I’m an atheist. I’d rather drink castor oil than set one red foot in a church.

19

The application of laying on of hands can only do two things heal her or make matters worse. There is no in between … the spirit in the men and women laying their hands on her is of great importance.

If they are deluded or deceived then the results will be worse.

If they are Holy and have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for the deliverance and not their own works then the little girl will be set free.

Sometimes demons mock the church goers that use Jesus name in vain and all does not always go well with deliverance due to their faith is being tested even as Jesus own disciples had problems:

Jesus had to heal a young boy due to the disciples lacked the faith.

later the disciples asked Jesus why they could not deliver the young boy and Jesus said this kind of demon only comes out by fasting and faith.

I hope the little girl gets delivered, but like I said it can be good or turn out very bad, never lukewarm.

If the devil couldn’t deceive you … he wouldn’t try now would he?

20

Please tell us you are not responsible for any person other than yourself.

A belief in Demonic Possession has been repudiated by just about everyone, and the nature of the symptoms is now understood as organic, not supernatural.