For people who don't believe in God.......?

Question

Is there a "scientific" approach to explain exorcisms? You cant say there is no such thing because there are thousands of accounts about them.

Exorcism means to cast out demons.

Demons=proof there is Satan.

If you believe in Satan, how can you not believe in God?

Don't you know that people use the name of Jesus when they cast out evil spirits?

Question: So if there is no God, how do you explain exorcisms?

thanks for those of you who actually explained your position without degrading.

Answer 1

Mental illness is not really possession. And Google "placebo effect" to see why it seems to work at times.

Answer 2

The "forwards" approach:

I would like to know of one nonreligious, scientifically studied and independently observed account of an exorcism that was not later linked to any other disorder, mental or physical, nor to malnutrition (if you have really looked at the conditions of those "thousands of accounts," you can understand the malnutrition part).

Secondly, the word "exorcism" means to cast out demons, yes. However, the *process* we call exorcism involved is a series of acts, sometimes physically torturous, other times frightening, that changes an observable behavior. This has nothing to do with demons being cast out...so perhaps we shouldn't it an exorcism, then. Maybe there's a name for it already...the placebo effect.

Next, even if there are demons does not mean that there's a Satan. It just means that there are very mean things that exist and could inhabit our bodies. I fail to see the link between that and a more powerful malevolent entity. It's like saying that, because there are heads of state in every country, there must be a world-wide head of state. It doesn't follow.

Fourth, even if there was a "top evil dude," that still wouldn't prove that there must be a "top good dude." If you were to use an argument of equivalence, you wouldn't be a Christian...you'd be much closer to a Zoroastrian, at best.

Finally, just because people say the word "Jesus" during the song-and-dance routine doesn't mean their invoking some magical power. I'll prove it next time my guinea pigs get sick, saying "Flying Spaghetti Monster" while giving them their meds. I promise to post the results.

Answer 3

Well see people who do and are involved in exorcisms believe in god and satan and all that stuff.
Other people go to a doctor.
I have been in a mental health hospital when I suffered from severe depression and there were patients trying to 'get rid of the devil' from other patients heads. These people were delusional and very unwell and thought that the medications that the doctors were giving them were trying to control them and so were the doctors.
My point is that some people who are mentally ill and suffer from awful debilitating illnesses like schizophrenia and bi-polar have extreme religious delusions to try and cast out the devil from peoples heads. All it is, is a chemical imbalance in the brain (not satan) and if they took their meds they (some) more than likely would have the ability for more rational thought. Cognitive therapy also helps.
As some religious people don't believe in science, chemical imbalances, medications, doctors and cognitive therapy they tend to think it is the devils work why someone is 'crazy'.
The religious people believe that the reason why someone is mad is because of the devil (not a chemical imbalance in the brain) and that there is no other explanation. Because the sufferer is delusional they believe it is the work of the devil.
This is my theory. I love science.

Answer 4

People who don't believe in God are generally not believing in any supernatural entities. Including Satan. Still, I would assume that athiests are able to explain religous exorcisms in the same way that God is explained, which is, as nonexistant.
A scientific approach to exorcisms might be the placebo effect, and while that may seem like a weak explanation, you would have to understand that the people's faith in God or whoever is going to exorcise them is very strong. Failed exorcisms do exist, so its not as if the placebo effect is working every single time.

Answer 5

Sweetie, your question has a fatal logical flaw.

Just because some people may perform exorcisms does NOT prove that an actual demon ever existed in the first place.

I explain exorcisms the same way I would explain a witch doctor casting a voodoo spell.

SUPERSTITION.

Catholic exorcisms are no different than a witch doctor casting a voodoo spell.

Answer 6

Just a few thoughts:

1) Even if there is proof of a supernatural occurence, it only prooves that supernatural things can happen. But it does not proove that the God of the Bible is necessarily behind all of this. Make sense?

2) Few possession stories that I've read actually demonstrate a supernatural occurence. A person speaking with a deep, terrible voice, for example, is not supernatural. But a person who is able to levitate in front of several people definitely is demonstrating the power of something supernatural! Again, this does not mean that this power comes from God, or Satan, or anything else, but it's worth a deeper look.

Answer 7

Here we go with the circular reasoning again. I don't have to explain exorcisms, I don't believe in demons that possess people. I agree with the person who said that exorcism has more to do with a placebo affect. The brain is a very strange and powerful organ. And mental illness can have a powerful affect on the mind. But, if an exorcism can help someone with a mental illness, more power to them.

Answer 8

Exorcism=power of suggestion.

If a mentally ill or extremely devout person thinks they are possessed by demons, nothing short of a so-called exorcism will cure them.

An exorcism in itself doesn't cast demons from a person simply because demons don't exist. However, the person being exorcised is convinced that they will become well by the performing of an exorcism, and in fact they do.

There's nothing supernatural or demonic going on here, it's simply the power of suggestion. The same principal works for hypnosis.

Answer 9

I think exorcisms are bogus- the "demons" are a result of either an untreated mental illness or a physical condition that causes muscle twitches. Epilepsy and schizophrenia used to be confused with "demons".
So, to answer your question- I do not believe in exorcisms either.

Answer 10

The 21st Century term for "demonic possession" is Paranoid Schizophrenia.
"Possessed" people are merely delusional, usually with a very elaborate delusional system. However, given the right therapy, the right medications, and enough time, "possession" can be treated.
The reason exorcism "works" is the exorcist is merely replacing one set of delusions with another. It can be done, but it takes a lot of time. Needless to say, unless you're treating the underlying chemical imbalance-based psychosis, it's a short-term treatment at best, and the original delusional set will re-emerge.
Sorry, dude: There aren't any demons, nor are there devils possessing the innocent. It's just plain old mental illness. Sorry to ruin your day.

Answer 11

Interestingly, there is a culture in South America with unique variety of schizophrenia. If you can get a schizophrenic to a priest within three days of the break, then they are cured, otherwise the are schizophrenic for life.

Exorcism means a psychiatrist wasn't called when one should have been. An exorcism does not mean there are devils, it means people are trying to fight mental illness with vary primitive means.