One of America's religious practices that not many people talk about, but is shown a lot on the big screen, are exorcisms. On NBC in 1971, the first ever exorcism was televised (Newkirk, Week In Weird). The clip features NBC journalist Carole Simpson interviewing Ed and Marsha Becker, a couple who began to experience strange things after moving into their new Chicago home. They claimed to have been experiencing dramatic hauntings in their home. The couple called upon the help of medium Joseph DeLouise and Rev. William Derl-Davis, who proceeded to channel the spirit and exorcise it. The definition of exorcism is the expulsion or attempted expulsion of an evil spirit from a person or place. The belief behind exorcisms is that the devil exists
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Possession is often referred to as attached,and sometimes a good thing. The followers also believe that because once an entity gains entry into a host, more sports will follow, which means that not only can humans become possessed, but so can animals, places and inanimate objects. The New Age religion makes sense because it takes all of the old practices and add a little bit of reality to it. The New Age exorcisms are reinterpreted as cleansing, detoxifications and detachments. There is no scripture so each cleansing is different every time. If the ritual can’t be performed in the home or a church then it can be done over the phone (God Bless America, Stollznow 124). This might seem a little odd for some people but for the followers of this religion it makes sense to not scare the victim because they don't know they are being exorcised. In the rituals they use candles, sage, incense and other herbs. The Catholic Church believes that the New Age actually brings upon possessions because their practice is different. A British priest Father Jeremy Davies told the Independent newspaper that incidents of demonic possession are rising dramatically along with the increase of New Age beliefs and practices, ignorance of the Bible and a growth in spiritual confusion (Brinkmann, Women of
Possession is often referred to as attached,and sometimes a good thing. The followers also believe that because once an entity gains entry into a host, more sports will follow, which means that not only can humans become possessed, but so can animals, places and inanimate objects. The New Age religion makes sense because it takes all of the old practices and add a little bit of reality to it. The New Age exorcisms are reinterpreted as cleansing, detoxifications and detachments. There is no scripture so each cleansing is different every time. If the ritual can’t be performed in the home or a church then it can be done over the phone (God Bless America, Stollznow 124). This might seem a little odd for some people but for the followers of this religion it makes sense to not scare the victim because they don't know they are being exorcised. In the rituals they use candles, sage, incense and other herbs. The Catholic Church believes that the New Age actually brings upon possessions because their practice is different. A British priest Father Jeremy Davies told the Independent newspaper that incidents of demonic possession are rising dramatically along with the increase of New Age beliefs and practices, ignorance of the Bible and a growth in spiritual confusion (Brinkmann, Women of