Demonic Possession :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Demonic PossessionBelief in the possibility of demonic monomania has waned since the advent of sophisticated medical knowledge. What had previously been considered to be examples of control of an individual by a spirit or devil ar now ordinaryly accepted as numerous forms of mental illness, considerably explained by nervous system activity. If all types of behavior (including emotional states and cognitive states) are produced and mediated solely by the brain, there leaves no potential for much(prenominal) a phenomenon as demonic possession to exist and such cases would clearly be instances of various illnesses. However, neuroscience has not yet been able to explain all of the characteristics common to purported cases of demonic possession ((1). A possessed individual is typically characterized by having strange physical ailments or disfigurements verbal outbursts, mostly obscene or blasphemous in nature violent behavior and vulgar behavior bodily spasms and contortions ability to speak languages never before studied self-mutilation superhuman abilities such as psychic abilities, abnormal strength, or an ability to perform behaviors out of the realm of human possibility such as levitation cessation of normal bodily functions for periods of time, including existent and heart beat and a pronounced revulsion to symbols, places, people, objects, and ceremonies having any religious context. Other phenomena associated with the presence of a demon include an acrid stench tag decrease in the temperature of the room which a possessed individual occupies writing appearing out of nowhere sounds and voices arising from nowhere and objects moving on their own and last of objects in the room, without anyone having laid a hand upon them ((2), (3). Despite the striking quality of this description, the expansion of the fields of medicine and psychology has led to diagnoses other than demonic possession for individuals who present circumstances similar to those mentione d above. These sorts of cases are now readily explained in terms of abnormal functioning in the brain and nervous system. There are various disorders which may mimic demonic possession these include schizophrenia (and other periods of psychosis), dissociative identity disorder, and Tourette syndrome ((4). Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of delusions, hallucinations, disorganise speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, affective flattening or inappropriate emotional responses, avolition, and alogia. General psychotic episodes, such as might accompany mood disorders, can besides closely simulate a state of demonic possession by hallucinations or delusions. The delusions can be ones of thought insertion, thought broadcasting, delusions of guilt, delusions of grandeur, such as beingness God (or a demon), or delusions that God (or a demon) is speaking to the person and giving commands for a special mission (5).