Exorcise That!
Would that it was that simple. To face evil and expunge it on the basis of representing goodness, righteousness and godliness. We humans have been somewhat questionably constructed. Some of us three parts reason, four parts passion.We succumb to the worst possible excesses given to human nature. Given to us also is the capability of surmounting our more undesirable proclivities, but we seldom make use of those capabilities, appearing to prefer ourselves in the raw.
There are some religions that have traditionally recognized that "bad" part of human nature, the sociopathic side of us sliding inexorably into psychopathy as being redolent of the devil's influence. The devil, you say?
Yes, Satan, Lucifer, that cloven-hoofed, dart-tailed, sharp-horned advocate of madness, hatred, hell and damnation. He infiltrates humankind's consciousness, when we let down our guards.
Which is to say, when we forsake God. Satan is, after all, God's counterpart. All that is holy, sacrosanct, good and just, facing off against the miserable affliction of greed, jealousy, blame, vanity and injustice.
What an odd race of beings we are. Unwilling or incapable of instructing ourselves toward a reasonable balance, choosing instead to eschew moderation in favour of the self's perceived needs.
Ah, there's a solution to such things, assistance for those who submerge themselves in the darkest essence of their souls and cannot find their way back out to the light. Catholicism - and, I am assured, some Protestant etiologies find comfort in a last resort - exorcism.
In this very city where I reside, the Catholic archbishop has appointed two new exorcists; one each for our language divides; French and English. I am aghast, astonished, little did I know that fully 45% of Canadians believe explicitly in the presence of demons. Amongst us.
These specialist clerics are, we are assured, experienced clergy with overseas experience - some areas of the world where the existence of demons is unquestioned. Demonic possession. Didn't Isaac Bashevis Singer write so engagingly of Dybbuks? Of Sycabuses? Clinging Spirits that will not be denied. They invade, they claim territory, they expunge the presence of the real spirit.
Exorcists, it would seem, claim that most of their calls are from women, claiming to be possessed. A demon? hysteria; nothing quite like it; multiple personalities, the sultry temptress, the docile housewife, the raving academic. Bad luck has assailed these tender souls. Evil tempts them, hounds them, gives them no surcease; steals their souls.
The demonic makes us sit up and take notice. The kind of acting out that cannot be associated with anything human. The liturgy of demon possessing outrage infested misery inducing carnage inflicting terror inducing mental illness known as psychiatric illness.
Labels: Religion, Social-Cultural Deviations, That's Life
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, April 06, 2008
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