Jamie Chase6
Member
15 messages
joined Mar 2005
I’ve attached an article I found online in the header.
If you just type in the phrase mentioned above, you'll get the full text.
Basically, the article argues that possessions are actually incredibly rare. Historically, people suffering from mental illnesses were subjected to exorcism methods, and obviously, the results were disastrous. It’s the same story when cases of supposed possession are treated with standard psychiatry—the "healing" process often leaves them looking like "walking zombies." Further down, there's a checklist of criteria that must be met before a proper diagnosis can even be considered. It makes a point that those who are possessed are also mentally ill. That mental instability could be a direct consequence of the possession, or it could be the actual underlying cause.
Here is the list of requirements—let's call them symptoms. Pay close attention to the lists under sections II and III.
Section III is titled "******d manifestations"—meaning "External Indicators." I have no clue why the English version of that specific title won't show up for me; every time I type it in, I just get asterisks, so I went ahead and translated it myself.
I ) Mental Changes Affecting The Person
1 Mental Changes Affecting The Person 1 look for changes in personality. This usually shows up when someone who is normally friendly suddenly turns completely silent.
2 An active person suddenly starts isolating themselves.
3 Watch for shifts in sleep patterns.
4 Look for sudden spikes or drops in weight.
5 Monitor changes in attitude and behavior, which typically lean toward hostility.
6 Note if they start swearing excessively when that is totally out of character.
7 See if they develop a sudden aversion to religious items. A regular churchgoer might suddenly find the mere thought of it repulsive.
8 Check for any evidence of self-mutilation.
9 Watch for changes in their style of dress.
10 Pay attention to their personal hygiene and any sudden decline in it.
11 look for evidence of occult materials in The room.
12 Look for destructive tendencies, particularly if they are targeting religious objects.
13 They might become verbally abusive or threatening without provocation.
14 They may turn violent, frequently attempting to harm animals.
15 The individual might suffer from intense nightmares or night terrors.
16 They might engage in humiliating acts, like wetting themselves and so on.
17 They may become hyper-fixated on sexual matters, including excessive masturbation or doing it in front of others.
18 Take notice if they seem to exhibit a different persona or multiple personalities.
19 Watch for bizarre dietary shifts. Foods they used to love might become revolting, or they might start eating things they previously hated.
20 Note if they seem to be experiencing memory blackouts.
All of The above Can be cries for Help or signal The beginning of drug Use or mental illness; because of this, you have to be extremely careful about labeling these as signs of possession. When these are the only symptoms present, you need to seek psychological counseling first before even entertaining the idea of demonic involvement. Honestly, a lot of these changes are perfectly normal, especially with teenagers. Don't jump to the conclusion of possession unless there's a reason to believe they are actually vulnerable to it—for instance, if they've been messing around with rituals or the occult and *then* the personality shifts start. Most likely, it's a natural issue, meaning it's psychiatric or psychological in nature.
As you'll see, there are plenty of other red flags. Look for those before you buy into the possession theory. Also, whatever you do, never tell someone going through personality changes that they might be possessed. You could be planting a very dangerous seed in their head.
II) Physical Changes Affecting The Person
1 The person might go for extended periods without blinking. (This could actually point to a neurological condition.)
2 The individual might lapse into a catatonic state. (All of The above Can be cries for Help or signal The beginning of drug Use or mental illness)
3 The person starts speaking languages they haven't studied. (Or maybe they're speaking English but with bizarre, unidentifiable accents.)
4 They start speaking in tongues.
5 The person becomes totally rigid—we're talking "unmovable" even if several people try to shift them.
6 Pay attention to the eyes. They can turn pitch black, almost like a shark's eyes.
7 Watch for blatant shifts in their facial features.
7 The person might display superhuman strength.
9 They might show signs of “precognition,” basically predicting things before they happen.
10 They might display “retro cognition,” knowing details about past events they had zero way of knowing.
11 They might be able to sense things about someone they’ve never even met.
12 Their voice could shift wildly, jumping from high pitches to deep, guttural tones.
13 They might actually be able to read your thoughts.
14 Their movement might get weird. For instance, they might seem to glide through a room rather than walking.
15 You might see welts or scratches appearing on the skin like symbols or writing. Check the spots they couldn't possibly have reached themselves.
16 They might actually levitate.
17 Their hair or eye color might suddenly change.
18 You might hear multiple voices coming out of one person simultaneously.
19 Note if animals seem terrified of the person, especially if the pets start acting skittish right when those personality changes kick in.
Now, look, a handful of these symptoms could easily be tied to medical issues or psychological struggles, but most of them? Most of them sit way outside the boundaries of science. If you start seeing a cluster of these, you need to take it seriously. At that point, you look back at the first category of symptoms and see if they line up with what's happening in this second category—or the third one I’m about to lay out. Obviously, some signs carry more weight than others. You have to weigh the severity of each symptom when you're trying to figure out what's actually going on. You should call on the Holy Spirit for guidance and discernment, particularly when the manifestations are vague or hard to pin down.
III) ******d manifestations
1 Objects move around as if they have a mind of their own.
2 Things might vanish and never turn up again. (Asporting)
3 Items might disappear only to pop up somewhere else entirely. (Teleporting)
4 Objects might vanish and then reappear exactly where they started.
5 Things might just manifest out of thin air. (Apports)
6 You might hear knocking, banging, or heavy thumping echoing through the house or a specific room.
7 Objects might fly through the air like invisible hands threw them.
8 You might hear knocks at the door when nobody is standing there. This often happens in sets of three—it's a classic way of mocking the Holy Trinity. Same goes for doorbells.
9 Religious items might go missing or get smashed. They can also be desecrated.
10 You might hear growling, but you won't be able to find the source.
11 Scratching sounds might occur without any clear explanation.
12 Foul, stinking odors might drift through the air with no logical source. They tend to come and go.
13 You might see strange lights darting around a room.
14 Heavy pieces of furniture might slide across the floor on their own.
15 You might catch glimpses of people or dark, shadowy figures that don't quite have a solid shape.
16 Strange-looking creatures might be spotted.
17 Doors and drawers might swing open or shut by themselves.
18 Electronic appliances might flip on or off without anyone touching them.
19 Fires might spontaneously ignite.
20 Pets might get spooked and refuse to go near the person being targeted.
21 Animals might growl at something they see that you can't see at all.
22 Any mention of God or religious topics might trigger a sudden burst of activity.
23 Glass might shatter for no apparent reason.
24 You might hear the sound of breaking glass, even though nothing is actually broken.
25 You might experience sudden temperature swings—usually a sharp drop—though they can go both ways. You can actually track this on a thermometer.
25 A person might suddenly feel freezing cold even if the room temperature stays the same. You might even see a one to two degree drop on a thermometer held near them.
26 You might get that unsettling vibe that someone is staring at you, or just a heavy sense that you aren't actually alone in the room.
27 People frequently report hearing distinct voices when there isn't a soul around.
28 It’s common to hear your own name being called out, only to realize the house is empty. I've even heard stories where a husband and wife both swear they heard the other person call to them at the exact same time.
29 You might feel a sudden, sharp draft of wind blowing through a room, even when every single window is shut tight.
30 Electrical issues become a thing—lights flickering out or switches failing to work entirely for no logical reason.
31 If you try to fight back or shut the activity down, you'll often see what looks like direct retaliation.
32 The activity tends to ramp up aggressively the moment you try to pray.
33 There’s often a visible backlash if a priest or any clergyman visits the house to help.
34 Then there are physical attacks. We're talking real violence here: punching, scratching, biting, or having your hair yanked.
35 Don't forget the psychological warfare. The devil is smart enough to target your specific vulnerabilities. If you’re struggling with shame, he’ll crank that emotion up to eleven. It works the same way with depression, anxiety, or whatever else keeps you up at night.
36 There are also sexual assaults involved. This can range from unwanted touching to full-blown penetration. And let's be clear: this happens to men just as much as it does to women.
37 Finally, there is the levitation of objects or even people.
