Exorcists Wanted!

That's right, the Catholic Church needs more exorcists. It's holding a two-day training conference. Apparently there just aren't enough exorcists available in the U.S. to counter the demonic onslaught sweeping across the country.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., who organized the conference, said only a tiny number of U.S. priests have enough training and knowledge to perform an exorcism. Dioceses nationwide have been relying solely on these clergy, who have been overwhelmed with requests to evaluate claims.

But the church doesn't advertise these type of events, preferring to keep a low profile with regard to exorcisms. Why?

1999, the church updated the Rite of Exorcism, cautioning that “all must be done to avoid the perception that exorcism is magic or superstition.”

Who would think that an arcane ritual designed to cast-out invisible evil beings was based on superstition? Imagine that. Naturally the church decides what are and are not cases of demonic possession. They're the experts on possession by invisible evil beings.

Signs of demonic possession accepted by the church include violent reaction to holy water or anything holy, speaking in a language the possessed person doesn’t know and abnormal displays of strength.

It's interesting that these invisible evil beings react badly to things that are "holy." What exactly makes holy water holy? Whatever it is, apparently demons can detect it.

The full exorcism is held in private and includes sprinkling holy water, reciting Psalms, reading aloud from the Gospel, laying on of hands and reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Some adaptations are allowed for different circumstances. The exorcist can invoke the Holy Spirit then blow in the face of the possessed person, trace the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead and command the devil to leave.

Again, why on earth would the church worry that people might think such practices are based on superstition? It's just baffling.

Superstition Kills

As if we needed more evidence, consider this story out of Guyana. A 14 year old girl got sick and started having convulsions. Neighbors came to help. Did they take her to the hospital, or to see a doctor? No.

a local pastor convinced them she was suffering from demonic possession. After trying to cast out the demons at her home, the grandmother carried her to a church, where the pastor and aides rubbed or pounded or her stomach and had her drink lime juice.

By the time she finally got to the hospital it was too late. She died.

The article I linked contains this statement.

It was not clear why the girl was not taken to a doctor earlier.

Well, if you think someone is possessed by a demon, why would you take her to a doctor? Hospitals aren't noted for their treatment of demon possession. They tend to rely on evidence-based medicine instead.

Demons and Reason Inside the Bubble

Over at Pharyngula there is a post up ridiculing belief in demons entitled, "They really are that crazy." Although I don't believe in demons or other supernatural beings, I don't find belief in demons particularly crazy given other mainstream religious views. Almost all believers of various sorts believe in an invisible human soul or spirit that exists separate from the purely physical body. If you already believe in spirits, it isn't that great of a stretch to postulate disembodied spirits, some of which may be malevolent. After all, they are all invisible anyway. 

Once you start with a foundation of certain irrational beliefs, other seemly more irrational beliefs are actually quite rational inside the bubble of that particular world-view. For example, let's suppose you really and absolutely believe that God created the world in six days.  Unfortunately for you, if you are truly intellectually honest and educated, you realize that the evidence simply does not support your belief. But that's what you believe through faith, despite its irrationality. Given that worldview, it is not irrational to conclude that God must have faked the fossil record and made the universe appear older, just to test peoples' faith. You aren't denying the evidence, or pretending that it supports a six day creation, you are recognizing it that it doesn't and coming up with a reason why. You are reasoning inside the bubble of an existing irrational world-view.