"Possessed" people

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by The Borg

..and this is where I was trying to go with this thread. Do you propose then, that the scriptures are symbolical of Christ merely healing a disease, or curing a bodily malfunction, rather than casting out an evil spirit?

How would the authors of the Gospels know the difference? Their spirits were merely afflicted and then they were healed.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by The Borg

..and this is where I was trying to go with this thread. Do you propose then, that the scriptures are symbolical of Christ merely healing a disease, or curing a bodily malfunction, rather than casting out an evil spirit?

My guess is that it was probably both, but that's just a wild guess and not based on anything substantive.

[Black Diamond Bay]

I had a friend that I grew up with, dated, and my parents wanted me to marry him. However he left the church after his mission. He announced that Christ was a myth, swore-off Christianity, and proclaimed himself an agnostic. He moved to Oregon and I didn't see him for years.

We were both home over Christmas one year and he wanted to take me out. So I went out with him. When he took me home and he was getting ready to say goodbye, and then while he was standing there something changed and he got a strange look about him. His eyes went all hollow, and his face looked weird. I'm not trying to be dramatic either, I don't know how to describe it, but it really didn't look or feel like he was in there right then. I've never seen anything quite like it, and IMO it was very unnerving. I don't know what his deal was, and I've seen him once since and he seemed normal enough but right then if someone had told me he was possessed I would have whole-heartedly agreed. I don't know if he really was though.

[The Borg]

Originally Posted by Archaea

How would the authors of the Gospels know the difference? Their spirits were merely afflicted and then they were healed.

Well, that's the deal isn't it. They wouldn't have know. What was once troubled, is now healed.

However, there are certain statements like (paraphrased): "This kind cometh out save by fasting and prayer"

-or-

"The spirit cried, 'what have we to do with the Jesus thou Son of God"

...there are many, which either specifically the evil spirit is commanded to come out, or, an evil spirit recognizes Jesus from the pre-existence and is told to be quite, etc.

What of these?

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by Archaea

How would the authors of the Gospels know the difference? Their spirits were merely afflicted and then they were healed.

For that matter, how do WE know the difference? Maybe some of these conditions are spiritual maladies that in our modern wisdom, we try to treat as medical conditions -- and then wonder why we sometimes aren't very successful at helping the individuals involved.

When I was about 13 or 14, I had an older married cousin who was having all sorts of "mental" issues. I thought she was pretty wacko. Once, though, her husband called my mom because she (my cousin, not my mom) had totally lost it. My mom has a masters degree in counseling, so she went over to help. My cousin was freaked out, babbling constantly, speaking total nonsense. My mom quickly realized that my cousin needed serious help and wanted my cousin to go to the mental hospital. My cousin was resisting, so my mom called my brother-in-law to assist. When he arrived, he walked into my cousin's house and immediately said something to the effect of "can't you feel the evil spirit in here? She's possessed". After calling all of us together for a short prayer, he then raised his right arm to the square, rebuked the evil spirit, and immediately my cousin was calm and rational. There was a noticeable change in the feeling in their house. As you might imagine, it was quite an experience for a 14 year old boy to witness.

[MikeWaters]

Minn_stat, does she still have all sorts of mental issues?

[SeattleUte]

I'm responsible for the one star. What a stupid thread.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I'm responsible for the one star. What a stupid thread.

There's nothing about that statement that surprises me.

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Minn_stat, does she still have all sorts of mental issues?

She's a bit strange still, but in a "normal" way. I'd describe her as odd or eccentric, but not wacko. I saw her for the first time in about ten years at a family reunion last summer, and my kids found her quite delightful. I, on the other hand, was a bit unnerved by her as a kid.

After the event I spoke of, she did fine for several weeks, then some of the issues came back. But they seemed manageable, not out of control, and over time, she seemed to work through the more troubling issues. Mostly without intervention by mental health specialists.

So my interpretation is that there were both spiritual and mental components to her troubles, and both needed to be treated in order for her to lead a normal life.

[SeattleUte]

I think demonic possession is a myth.