recoverer
|
There is another factor to consider. In order for us to be able to experience the contrast that the creative aspect of being contains, all kinds of states of mind need to become a possibility. It may be that people who have negative experiences during their youth to an extent where they end up developing mulitple personalities, might end up getting involved with self created personalities that are really negative.
People who are into the demonic viewpoint seem to believe that there are different kinds of demons for different types of personality traits: the demon of lust, the demon of greed, the demon of confusion, the demon of gluttony, the demon of irreverence, the demon of arrogance, and so on. Traits that each of us have to varying degrees.
Regarding supernatural manifestations, each of us have access to an inner knowledge where we know how to manifest in a supernatural way. It may be that people who get overly involved in certain aspects lose touch with the mental bounderies people usually limit themselves by, and as a result are able to draw upon a supernatural ability that exists within their spirit being. Carl Jung and others have found that hysterical people are 50 times more likey to have supernatural abilities. Of course the argument exists that hysterical people sometimes get involved with supernatural entities.
The cases of possible possession I've read about, for example Scott Peck's Jersey story, shows the possibility that a person's own mind might be involved. Jersey was sexually molested by her father and ended up with a husband who was domineering. These factors explain her psychosis. Scott Peck hypnotized her early on while working with her. This might've opened her up to his suggestions. Especially since she was in an unbalanced state of mind and used to being directed by others. Scott Peck's basis for the demon viewpoint is Mallachi Martin. It doesn't seem like he considered other viewpoints.
Scott Peck had no previous experience with multiple personality patients. New personalities seemed to appear for Jersey when Scott Peck prompted Jersey (in some way) to manifest a new personality. He did so while thinking of Martin's guidelines. Eventually he supposedly got satan himself to appear. It really seems to me that his Mallachi Martin based belief system influenced him to jump to such a conclusion.
Scott Peck also mentioned the devlish facial expression Jersey took on. Very arrogant. Body language experts have found that their are facial expressions we don't have conscious control of. It is a matter of how our emotions manifest. It may be that the facial expression Scott Peck spoke of, came from Jersey's own negative aspects of mind. After all, we each have the ability to manifest in an irreverent and arrogant manner. If we didn't have such an ability, we wouldn't have the contrast that is required so we could choose reverence and humility as our way of being.
In the end the negative voices Jersey heard didn't go away completely. She stated that rather than being right there with the voices, they receeded to the background. I would think that if an exorcism actually caused demons and the devil to go way, they would go away completely. Perhaps I am wrong, but I believe what I suggest at least ways needs to be considered.
Another comment about the suggestion factor. The possible possession cases I've read about show that possibly possessed people are highly open to the suggestions of those who perform exorcisms. If they deal with an exorcist that expects negative behavior from the possibly possessed person, the person will respond accordingly. If an exorcist requests that Christ makes it so that a possibly possessed person doesn't manifest in a negative way but rather behaves his or herself, this is what takes place.
Anybody who has been at this forum for a while knows that I have a big place in my heart for Christ. I don't doubt his ability to help out in the manner he wants. However, if his power is actually involved with the possession cases people speak of, why are numerous exorcisms often required for one person? I would think that a demonic influence would split the scene as soon as Christ required it to do so. Tendencies of mind on the other hand, it is up to a person to overcome them. It may be that exorcisms in some way help people overcome such tendencies. Perhaps they lose belief in such tendencies. Responsible exorcists have afflicted people take part in follow up psychological therapy.
Even if attached spirits of some kind are involved on "some" occasions, the fact of how a person needs to change his or her state of mind in order for a spirit to go away, shows that they hold the key.
|