When the term exorcism is mentioned, many people think of the devil-possessed, head-spinning character, the main character in the 1973 film The Exorcist. What is the actual definition of exorcism that Hollywood doesn't share with us? Exorcism as defined by the Catholic Encyclopedia is (1) the act of expelling or driving away demons or evil spirits from persons, places, or things believed to be possessed or haunted by them, or which are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative conjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or of any higher power to which he is subject (Toner). However, men are much less experienced in the Roman Catholic form of exorcism. The term exorcism comes from the Greek word "Exorkizein", which means to bring with oath (Toner). The earliest accounts of exorcism come from ancient Babylon, where Babylonian priests served as ritual performers of exorcisms. These ancient priests made wax or clay figurines that supposedly represented the demon attributed to the possessed person. The look-alike demonic figurines were then destroyed, resulting in the removal of the demonic spirit from the person. The fear of demonic spirits was so high in ancient Babylon that it was considered “the most important factor in the daily life of a Babylonian.” The first explanations, written by the Assyrians for the cure of illnesses, incorporated prayers to God and challenges to demons who were believed to be associated with illnesses of all kinds (Bancroft). Exorcism continued to impact the empires of ancient Mesopotamia into the Persian Empire of the 6th century. In the official religion of Persia, Zoroastrianism, tells...... half of the document ......s/religion/re0418.html>.Graham, p. Cliff. "Exorcism: the facts!" Exorcism: the facts! January 2007. Web. 12 April 2012. http://www.stmichael.pair.com/index.htmMacNutt, Francis. Healing awakening and liberation from evil spirits. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Chosen, 2009. Print.Matthew. The New American Bible: With the Revised New Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987. Print.Mark. The New American Bible: With the Revised New Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987. Print.Martin, Malachi. Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans. New York: Quality Paperback Book Club, 2000. Print.Toner, Patrick. "Exorcism." The Catholic Encyclopedia. vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. April 2, 2012. Weller, Philip T. The Roman Ritual. Milwaukee: Bruce Pub., 1964. Print.
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