Demonic possession

Grendel, by John Gardner, follows the story of a bestial creature named Grendel and his experiences with his human enemies. Undeniably, Grendel and the Danes are connected in some way, using each other in order to properly define themselves and explain their meaning in life. The mutual dependence of Grendel and the humans highlights the similarities between the seemingly two different species. However, when taking a closer look, Grendel and the humans are more similar than different. Grendel,…

infamous witch trial was the Paisley Witches which occurred in the town of Paisley, Scotland from 1696-1697 which resulted in six people being executed for witchcraft. Christian Shaw an eleven year old began displaying the classic symptoms of demonic possession. She blamed “a coven” of witches, which was a collection of people in the town and her personal servant. In the end seven people were arrested, one committed suicide in prison and the other six, were strangled and burned in June of 1697.…

One of the most unique and dedicated thinkers of all time, Henry David Thoreau was obsessed with the idealism of transcendentalist philosophy. In fact, he actually tested his beliefs at Walden Pond, making himself a living example of the contemporary movement. Transcendentalism, a branch of social reform in the mid-1800’s, stressed human divinity and the importance of nature and intuition. Rejecting indulgences and extravagance, Thoreau sought to purify society by bringing it back to its roots.…

For centuries, artists have made still-life artworks as a response to the world around them, preserving both material possessions and concepts in their works. Two display examples of this are Dutch Golden Age still life painter, Pieter Claesz (executed works include ‘Vanitas with Violin and Glass Ball’ and ‘Nature morte au crabe’), and British, eccentric, contemporary artist, Damien Hirst (creator of iconic works ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’ and ‘Chicken’).…

thought of as demonic possessions. Since the conversations surrounding mental illnesses were heavily shrouded with negative stigma, the topic was rendered unacceptable during proper conversations. Dr. Minor’s story illustrates how those who suffer from mental illness are often misunderstood and stigmatized. While today it is common knowledge that mental illness does not stem from mental instability or a lack of intelligence, in the nineteenth century, mental illnesses were seen as possessions or…

The Inuit tribe also was known as “Artic People” or “Eskimos” were the first settlers in the northern hemisphere of the earth, they settled in extremely cold climates located in Canada, Alaska, Siberia, and Greenland. They were some of the first native people of North America and were forced to settled in these cold climates due to hostile Indians and the south having no good land available. Being able to adapt easily the Inuit people have been able to sustain life for their tribe for thousands…

The sky is turning black, not the soft, velvet, black fabric of the night with white embedded pearls. No, this is a demonic, black shadow, looming over Pompeii. This is the shadow looming over Flavia, Drusilla, and countless others. It stays there, effortlessly. Then flakes of hot, burning cinders, trailing streaks of red in the pitch-black darkness rain down onto the…

West-African Vodun and Western Catholicism Before we dive into the deep discussion of the relationships between West-African Vodun and Western Catholicism, it is important to understand why I chose to study West-African Vodun. I grew up in a very Lutheran area, but my parents did not raise me with religion. I never really fit in with the Lutheran churches in the area, and I knew that I didn 't believe in God. Although all of my friends were lutheran, and I would often go to church with them and…

In the medically-backward and highly religious era, it was quickly accepted that demonic or occult possession was the most likely explanation. Mary Sibley, a member of Parris’ church, suggested that Tituba, the Native American or African-American servant of the Parris household, bake a witch cake. The concept behind the witch cake, which used the…

Voodoo Dolls Introduction I. (Attention Getter) A specific dream or an urgent desire all fulfilled by a simple doll. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful doll to have? Although Voodoo Dolls can seem very dark demonic, magical, and superstitious, have you ever thought about voodoo dolls being created to fulfill an individual’s specific purpose of life? Created to fulfill romance, financial gain, or increase their luck. II. (Specific Purpose) Today I’m going to inform you about the voodoo doll. I will…