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When exorcism is mentioned, many people think of the head-spinning, devil-possessed lead character in the movie "The Exorcist." What is exorcism? “to expel or attempt to expel ( one or more evil spirits ) from ( a person or place believed to be possessed or haunted ), by prayers , adjurations, and religious rites.”- Collins English Dictionary Australian edition edited by G.A Wilkes Fewer people may be familiar with the non-Hollywood version of the Roman Catholic ritual that is believed to cast out devils in the name of God through fasting, prayers and the reading of the Gospel. It's a rite that is performed rarely and with much caution, and must be approved by a top bishop. Possession is when Satan enters and takes over the physical and mental capabilities of a victim, however, the soul of the victim remains free.Exorcism is mainly thought of as the rite of driving out the Devil and his demons from possessed persons. Exorcism is mainly performed in incidences of demonic possession that is generally distinguished from spiritual possession. A general assumption is that the Roman Catholic singularly practices the rite of exorcism, but some Protestant denominations such as the Pentecostals and other charismatic groups practice it as well. These groups refer to the practice as "deliverance ministry" where gifted people drive out devils and heal while they touch the persons with their hands, called laying on of hands, and pray over them. Each different religion and groups have their own views and attitudes on exorcism. Satan acts through the victim with out there consent, in doing this is leaves the victim morally blameless. Technically, exorcism is not driving out the Devil or a demon, but it is placing the Devil or demon on oath. And, in some incidences there may be more than one demon possessing a person. "Exorcism" is derived from the Greek preposition "ek" with the verb "horkizo" which means "I cause [someone] to swear" and refers to "putting the spirit or demon on oath," or invoking a higher authority to bind the entity in order to control it and command it to act contrary to its own will.
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