2007-10-07 18:35:06 · 17 answers · asked by cluckyt 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. Believing so is a mental disease today.
2007-10-07 18:40:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I could be that they were actual malevolent spirits. The Catholic Church has tons of records on exorcisms - it's not just a movie. Weird stuff happens that cannot be explained by sheer mental illness. Things like people and objects get levitated and thrown around. Apparently one of the biggest dangers to an exorcist is the risk of defenestration (getting levitated out a window). That seems to be a favorite prank of these spirits
2007-10-08 01:42:35 · answer #2 · answered by Robin Runesinger 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is unlikely that someone with a mental illness would have identified Jesus as the Messiah. Only demons would have such knowledge.
One demoniac mentioned in the Gospels demonstrated supernatural strengh by snapping the iron chains used to constrain him. That is one of the signs of possession.
I have no doubt that ancient peoples may have mistaken mental illnesses or even epilepsy as signs of possession, but Jesus had the power to discern between illness and demonic possession.
2007-10-08 03:42:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used to think so when I was a teenager. In the meantime I have experienced enough to know that evil spirits still mess up people's lives, and that they are still sometimes cast out.
I had a friend who was a psychiatrist. He used to say that there were cases they couldn't identify or treat and had to admit were supernatural.
2007-10-08 03:24:52 · answer #4 · answered by Amelie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing new under the sun. Yes we tend to diagnose mental illness as a form of a physical illness. We fail to look at possession, of spirits and demons as real. It still happens. But, it is so shut up in the churches that it is not even discussed. Its sad that its easier to push a pill than to go out and do the work that Jesus commanded us to do in his name. I think a lot of mental hospitals and those so called members of the mental health occupations would soon find themselves without much work...
2007-10-08 01:48:09 · answer #5 · answered by nora d 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A lot, if not all of what is diagnosed as mental illness is actually demonic possession, which is why psychiatrists cannot and never will be able to help or heal anyone with mental disorders. Only God can do that.
2007-10-08 01:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by samuraijsp 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think there is a connection, but not in every case. I am a Muslim and we believe in Djinn - some of which are evil and can take over us and make us "crazy". I've listened to some awesome lectures on it. It's a very interesting subject.
Btw, Muslims have exorcisms too.
2007-10-08 01:49:22 · answer #7 · answered by Sassafrass 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, not a direct correlation. But a link for sure. I am sure that the most mentally ill are probably host to demons of whatever kind.
2007-10-08 02:03:49 · answer #8 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Possibly.
2007-10-08 01:38:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2007-10-08 02:13:39 · answer #10 · answered by just a man 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋