Signs of Demonic Possession

This is just a general list of potential symptoms. Many of these things can be caused by psychological issues-if you (or someone you know) are showing any of these symptoms you should speak to a psychologist first. You should also never attempt to perform an exorcism without the help of a religious leader.

1. Changes in personality. Usually the individual becomes more aggressive and angry or becomes withdrawn from life. They may begin swearing more frequently or act out of character. They may treat friends and family members like their enemy and show little concern for consequences.
2. An unpleasant sulfur smell (similar to rotten eggs) may appear near the individual.
3. The individual has strange markings on their skin. Burns or scratches can be in the shape of words or just present. These can be the result of self-mutilation or appear without the person’s knowledge.
4. Animals may react to the possessed person with fear or aggression. They may also appear to react to unseen things in the room.
5. The person has an aversion to religious objects or leaders.
6. Objects may move or levitate when the person is present.
7. The possessed individual can demonstrate an almost inhuman amount of strength.
8. Their eye color or other physical traits may change suddenly.
9. The individual may hear voices when no one is present or attempt to talk to the demon.
10. Periods of memory loss. The possessed person may black out for long (or short) periods of time.
11. An interest in the occult. Finding occult relics or satanic material are a clues that the person may have been unknowingly inviting demonic entities into their life.
12. Changes in temperature in the individual or the room.
13. The possessed person may growl or attempt to speak in other languages.
14. The person’s voice and demeanor may change.
15. They person may have knowledge about the future or demonstrate the ability to read others thoughts.

The Dark Side of Exorcism

Exorcism is a topic I’ve been thinking about covering for awhile, but I’ve always hesitated because it’s such a sensitive subject. There’s also a ton of information out there about it, so sorting through it all is a bit overwhelming. I’m going to be doing several posts on this, mostly because my posts would be insanely long otherwise.

Most people think of exorcism as a Catholic/Christian practice but the truth is it’s practiced by all sorts of religions and cultures. It’s easy to see how early people who didn’t understand a lot of diseases and disabilities could attribute odd behavior to the presence of supernatural, so it only makes sense that the idea of possession would appear all over the world. The whole concept is so interesting that it’s been picked up by hundred of books and movies, making it more and more popular.

But is there any truth to the idea that a person could be possessed by something, or someone, else? For most people that’s a really personal question that only they can answer for themselves. There’s always going to be examples of possession out there. Ultimately you have decide for yourself if the people involved are being honest and really understand what’s happening. Personally, I do believe that possession is a real phenomenon but I think it’s a lot rarer than most people realize.

One thing I realized while researching this topic is that exorcism has a really dark side that most people don’t even know about-and it has nothing to do with demons.  Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have been killed during exorcisms. In every case I found, the person who died was killed by some negligent action on the part of the family or friends performing the ritual. An autistic boy in Wisconsin died after being wrapped in sheets during an exorcism. A boy in Russia suffocated after being forced faced down during an exorcism ritual. A Texas man killed his wife in a similar manner. A woman in New Zealand drowned when her family held her underwater during a ritual. Others died having holy water poured into their throats. The cases (many of them recent) seem to be piling up. The deaths always seem to be accidental. Often these deaths result in court trials and sentences for the parties involved. I didn’t find a single case where the death was attributed to the demonic entity. Humans seem to be the ones actually doing the most damage.

I think that people can learn from these cases. If you think someone is possessed, don’t try to handle on your own. Get help from a religious official. And use good judgment if you decide a ritual is a necessity. Don’t do anything that could potentially harm the victim.  

Next week, I’m planning on covering some of the signs of demonic possession. Have you ever met someone who thought they were possessed? I’d love to hear some real-life stories!