Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective
Many symptoms of possession described by exorcists correspond to the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Before helping a person who feels that they are possessed by an evil spirit, one should answer this question: when is therapy necessary, and when is an exorcism required? The article points out th...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
| Published: |
Wydawnictwo Ignatianum
2016-07-01
|
| Series: | Rocznik Filozoficzny Ignatianum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/index.php/rfi/article/view/70 |
| _version_ | 1818914211793731584 |
|---|---|
| author | Borys Jacek Soiński |
| author_facet | Borys Jacek Soiński |
| author_sort | Borys Jacek Soiński |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many symptoms of possession described by exorcists correspond to the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Before helping a person who feels that they are possessed by an evil spirit, one should answer this question: when is therapy necessary, and when is an exorcism required? The article points out that psychiatrists have different attitudes to theological explanations of possession and exorcism. According to the author, it is best to adopt a complementary attitude, such as leaves room for the thought that there exist two causes for the symptoms of possession - the natural and the supernatural one. This may then furnish a common approach for medicine, psychology and religion. The article presents the theological criteria for determining possession by an evil spirit, and the psychological criteria for diagnosing pathological possession, as given by the World Health Organisation (ICD-10) and the American Psychiatric Association (DSM 5). The author discusses similarities and differences between the theological criteria for diagnosing demonic possession and the criteria involved in a medical diagnosis. On the basis of both psychological and theological criteria, it is possible to recognize psychopathological states and demonic possession in multidimensional terms. This allows the author to distinguish four situations: (1) health, (2) psychopathological possession, (3) demonic possession of a mentally healthy person, and (4) coexistence of demonic possession with psychiatric disorders. Practical experience shows that the largest number of patients seeking help in health centres belongs to the fourth group, which is why there is a need for close cooperation between exorcists and psychologists or psychiatrists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:42:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f92f6219741a492695857205d18404f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-1402 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:42:47Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Wydawnictwo Ignatianum |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rocznik Filozoficzny Ignatianum |
| spelling | doaj.art-f92f6219741a492695857205d18404f92022-12-21T20:01:22ZdeuWydawnictwo IgnatianumRocznik Filozoficzny Ignatianum2300-14022016-07-0122118522910.5281/zenodo.5789170Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspectiveBorys Jacek Soiński0Wydział Teologiczny UAMMany symptoms of possession described by exorcists correspond to the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Before helping a person who feels that they are possessed by an evil spirit, one should answer this question: when is therapy necessary, and when is an exorcism required? The article points out that psychiatrists have different attitudes to theological explanations of possession and exorcism. According to the author, it is best to adopt a complementary attitude, such as leaves room for the thought that there exist two causes for the symptoms of possession - the natural and the supernatural one. This may then furnish a common approach for medicine, psychology and religion. The article presents the theological criteria for determining possession by an evil spirit, and the psychological criteria for diagnosing pathological possession, as given by the World Health Organisation (ICD-10) and the American Psychiatric Association (DSM 5). The author discusses similarities and differences between the theological criteria for diagnosing demonic possession and the criteria involved in a medical diagnosis. On the basis of both psychological and theological criteria, it is possible to recognize psychopathological states and demonic possession in multidimensional terms. This allows the author to distinguish four situations: (1) health, (2) psychopathological possession, (3) demonic possession of a mentally healthy person, and (4) coexistence of demonic possession with psychiatric disorders. Practical experience shows that the largest number of patients seeking help in health centres belongs to the fourth group, which is why there is a need for close cooperation between exorcists and psychologists or psychiatrists.https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/index.php/rfi/article/view/70opętanie i transopętanie demonicznekryteria diagnozowania opętaniademonologiaredukcjonizm |
| spellingShingle | Borys Jacek Soiński Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective Rocznik Filozoficzny Ignatianum opętanie i trans opętanie demoniczne kryteria diagnozowania opętania demonologia redukcjonizm |
| title | Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective |
| title_full | Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective |
| title_fullStr | Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective |
| title_short | Criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession: a multidimensional perspective |
| title_sort | criteria for the diagnosis and recognition of possession a multidimensional perspective |
| topic | opętanie i trans opętanie demoniczne kryteria diagnozowania opętania demonologia redukcjonizm |
| url | https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/index.php/rfi/article/view/70 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT borysjaceksoinski criteriaforthediagnosisandrecognitionofpossessionamultidimensionalperspective |