CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Regan, I’m yet to see a shred of scientific evidence that the phenomena is real. As with most of this stuff, its all heresay from fantasy prone people. No scientific data to support anything supernatural and without a supernatural element it become a psych case rather than a case for theological concern.
As for Hell, many different religious have answers, but no proof as to what hell is, who goes there and why. I believe that some so-called theologians like Fred Phelps would go so far as to say all humans are condemned to hell. Makes one wonder why bother go to church. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the more positive view that hell does not exist and everyone goes to heaven. I think the second view is more productive, although equally unproven.
I agree with my other fellow Captain Howdy fans … I think we just love the movie because of the author, director, screenplay, and the very talented actors.
The subject of possesion in the hispanic culture is something that we tend to belive in.Like Dseabro said in this thread, that there is no scientific proof that this phenomena really is real but yet culture still belives in the possesion. I remember when I was a child how my older sister reacted after she saw the movie, it was as if the movie was a real documentary of a real girl being possed. I have read how some fans of this site reacted when they saw the Exorcist for the very first time and I tell you it wasn’t as severe as when my older sister saw the movie. She was one of those that fainted in the very theater and lost all nerve.I tend to belive that because our deep catholic up bringing is intertwined with supernatural belief she took the movie to heart. Now 35 years later my sister a little wiser and older that is not the case.We have chatted over the subject of how she fainted in the theater and her only explaination is that the movie had a great impression on her and that things she believed in then are not what she belives in now.As for me ,I do belive in possesion.
I don’t believe in God or the Devil so the idea of possession being real is a non starter for me.
I was brought up a Roman Catholic & I watched the film when I was 12 when religion & the real world for me was kinda blurred, as a result the film scared the shit out of me LOL!!!
But, I never had religion drilled into me so as I’ve got older & religion not meaning anything to me anymore I’ve come to appriciate The Exorcist just like any other classic movie.
Friends,
I absolutely believe in possession. As a Christian, it exists in my worldview and I have done a great deal of study to reaffirm this.
Cheers & God Bless
Benjamin Szumskyj
Editor, AMERICAN EXORCISTBen,
I was raised as a Roman Catholic, but we never delved into demonic possession even when I was a young teenager and The Exorcist had made its name in the media and churches at that time. Although exorcism was something, “the Catholics like to keep in the closet,” it was never a topic of discussion at church, school, or home.
Perhaps I was raised in a time when the “boogey man” was only a monster that was under your bed. But, after viewing The Exorcist at age 13, it certainly had an psychological affect on me because I was Catholic and I bought what the film was telling me (albeit I didn’t fully comprehend it from a mature point of view).
My viewpoint is one of the tremendous amount of charlatans profiting from what “they” call demonic possession while pocketing change from the mentally challenged or devoutly religious zealots (oh, and I’m not referring to you here, Ben). 🙂
FBowdern,
You make a valid point. There will always be a ‘tremendous amount of charlatans’, but to be fair, that’s in every profession. Such is life, unfortunately. It all comes down to a mixture of faith, naturally, and personal research. I’ve come across many cases of false possessions, but some (I believe) are the real deal.
Cheers & God Bless
Benjamin Szumskyj
Editor, AMERICAN EXORCISTCan you reference any cases you believe to be real?
What about them makes you believe they are real?
Ben, I see that etrigan has some raised important questions. I now consider you a “guru” on the subject. I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights, too.
As an aside, in terms of the reality of religion, when I think about the Shroud of Turin, I wanted to desperately believe in it. But, being a scientist raised as a Roman Catholic, I could only concur with what science has to offer on the subject. It’s a wonderful thing to behold, but the evidence just isn’t there … unless we are true believers and can ignore the fact that the “blood” on the shroud is actually a form paint used in medieval times. The debate still rages … 🙂
Hey dsea … I didn’t see that one, but I watch a documentary on the Science Channel with very religious scientists who were trying to prove the shroud was real. But, when they took a sample of the blood remnant, it turned out to be paint (I believe it was iron oxide … one of the paints in medieval times, if I remember this correctly). Of course paint was not the only measure used to examine the shroud … it failed, unfortunately, all tests including carbon dating which is has never been wrong yet. The shroud was made several decades after Christ’s death and it could not have been made during his death. Bummer.
Personally, I think it would have been a great piece of evidence that Jesus existed. However, as it turns out it was a hoax played by a very sophisticated medieval painter(s).
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