Excerpt from this article:
"So, exorcism might seem like fiction. But did you know that the Vatican has actually encouraged every Catholic diocese to have a trained exorcist on staff? A local psychologist is an expert who is traveling around the world to train those priests."
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I'm not a fan of the Pope or the Roman Catholic Church (see my posts: Saving those Damned Catholics and Saving Those Damned Catholics, Part 2). And I'm sure that much (most?) "paranormal activity" can be explained away by either fraud, hallucination or some other 'natural' cause. But at the same time I do believe that there is a real devil, and there are real demons. And those evil spirits cause real problems for people. The Bible says:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8
and
"For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places." - Ephesians 6:12
I'm sure that some - certainly not all, and probably not even most - but some mental health problems stem in part from demonic oppression and/or possession. But the Bible also tells us that the devil's days are numbered:
"And I heard a loud voice
saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom
of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren
is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye
heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth
and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Revelation 12:10-12
And
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." - Revelation 20:10
Recommended reading (my posts):
