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Being Possessed Research Paper

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Being Possessed Research Paper
Are victims of mental disorders demonically possessed? It is vital to know that just because someone is mentally unstable, it does not mean that they are possessed. Mental illness is a neurological condition which requires a diagnosis whereas possession is a spiritual battle. Demonic possession and mental illness may seem alike because of the possessed person’s ability to display the same type of symptoms found in certain mental disorders, but are very different due to one being a neurological condition and the other a spiritual affliction. While on the outside, some mental disorders may look to be like demonic possession, that is usually not the case. Mental disorders, which can be treated by a medical professional, may be inherited or caused …show more content…
This may also be found in possessed individuals, however speaking a fluent language that the person has no previous knowledge of is a good indication that he or she may be possessed. Auditory and visual hallucinations are symptoms of Schizophrenia and possession which makes the two difficult to discern in certain situations. Demons show themselves in many forms, such as hallucinations, and seek out to torment those who are weakened and untenable. Other symptoms related to possession include otherworldly strength found in an article by Stephen Kovacs. “The possessed have power and agility exceeding what they would otherwise be capable of, have violent fits, and have superhuman knowledge” (Kovacs). Epilepsy has also been confused with possession on certain occasions. Seizures are seen by a lot of people as a form of torment related to demonic activity. Care takers of the person experiencing the episodes have been known to make attempts to “pray out the demons” to rid the person of epilepsy. It is common to mistake epilepsy as a form of possession due to the Bible containing passages, specifically Matthew 17:15-18, that express possession as a cause of epileptic symptoms. Epilepsy is related to the central nervous system and occurs when nerve cells within the brain become disturbed. It is beneficial to offer prayer for peace of mind to those experiencing seizures, but it is not a form of

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