Download Acute Manifestations provoked by Christian activities 突發性的邪靈

Demon Possession
Psychological or
Spiritual/Supernatural?
Dr. Hong Kwai Wah
Specialist in Psychiatry
Possession Syndrome
The experience of being "possessed" by another entity,
such as a person, god, demon, animal, or
inanimate object ( either a subjective experience
or an interpretation by others )
Syndrome refers to a cluster of symptoms that are
characteristic of this specific disorder
Possession Syndrome
1. Psychological position
全是心理現象或精神病
2. Spiritual position
believe in the existence of supernatural
相信靈界或超自然的存在，真正
有被鬼附
3. Intermediate position
interaction between the two
中間立場,心理與靈互為影響
4. Uncertain position 不肯定
Cases of Suspected Demon Possession
Encountered many cases of suspected demon
possession referred to me by pastors
My struggle was :
Are these cases just some kind of mental disorders,
being misidentified as demon possession ?
Or that they are genuine spiritual/ supernatural
disturbances or demonization ?
What did I do ?
1. Identify and make connection with some famous, local
Christian exorcists
Rev. Sam Lai a Pastor and former drug addict
Dr. Agnes Lau PhD Seminary Professor
Dr. Agatha Chan PhD Clinical Psychologist
2. With the consent of these clients, I accompanied them to these
exorcists
3. Observed and learned how they confirmed the diagnosis and
managed these cases of alleged demon possession
4. Study the Biblical passages on demoniacs and search the
literature and books on this subject
Two Types of Possession (Sociologist SS Walker)
1. Ritual possession
Temporary, generally voluntary and reversible,
culturally accepted, and often exhibited in
the context of religious ceremonies
The affected persons possess supernatural
powers of healing and understanding
e.g. Sun da 神打 a way of invoking spirit
possession for the purpose of protection
and/or fight
Use of a medium to talk to the deceased
spirits 問米，交鬼
a recognized profession or business
Two Types of Possession (Sociologist SS Walker)
2. Peripheral Possession
Longer-lasting, involuntary, unwanted possession
The affected persons might become so distressed
and dysfunctional that they seek assistance
from spiritual healers, shaman or sometimes mental
health professionals
e.g. 神打sun da (troubled by uninvited possessions)
氣功chi kung( when chi becomes out of control
走火入魔)
The Bible differentiated
Illnesses from Demonization
Mt 2:24
News about him (Jesus) spread over Syria, and
people brought to him all who were ill with
various diseases, those suffering severe pain,
the demon-possessed, those having seizures,
and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
Mk 6:12,13
They went out and preached that people should
repent. They drove out many demons and
anointed many sick people with oil and
healed them.
Terminology in the New Testament that
describe Demoniacs
1. daimonizomai （under the power of demon）
被魔鬼壓制（Mk 5:15）
2. echo pneuma/daimion/legeon
(have a spirit/demon/legion)有邪靈（Lk 8:27
）
3. en akathartos pneuma(in unclean spirit)
有/在污鬼裏 （Mk 5:2）
4. katadunasteuo(under the power of the devil)
Biblical Principles of Discernment
of Demonization
Two Basic Principles
1. The “Presence” of God forces the demons to
manifest, because Satan and demons tremble
before God
神的臨在逼使邪靈顯現
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that– and
shudder (in terror and horror)
Biblical Basis of Discernment
Mark 3:11
Whenever the evil spirits saw Him, they fell down
before him and cried out,”You are the Son of
God.”
Mark 9:20
So they brought him(the boy with an evil spirit).
When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately
threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the
ground and rolled around, foaming at the
mouth.
Biblical Basis of Discernment
Mark 1:23-25
Just then a man in their synagogue who was
possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “ What do
you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have
you come to destroy us? I know who you are—
the Holy One of God.”
Therefore, any Christian activity that invokes
God’s presence can force demons to manifest
“ Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
The evil spirit shook the man violently and
Christian Activities that Force
Demons to Manifest
逼使邪靈顯現的方法
(1) When Christians come together in the name of
Jesus Christ奉主的名聚會（Matthew18:20）
(2) Worship and praise God wholeheartedly
神用以色列的讚美為寶座（Psalm 22:3）
(3) Proclaim the Word of God*
宣講神的話（Rev 12:7-12，Heb 4:12-13）
Christian Activities that Force
Demons to Manifest
(4) Prayer禱告 : the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray
我們求告神，神就臨近
（Deut 4:7，Ps 145:18，La 3:57，Ecc 4:8，Php 4:5）
*Renunciation of occult practice 認罪棄絕鬼魔 （與靈界接觸項
目表及棄絕偶像、砍斷咒詛的禱告）為自己及祖先
*Command the evil spirits to manifest in the name of Jesus Christ
奉主名斥責邪靈，直接命令邪靈彰顯或說出它們的名字
*The power released by prayer of a spirit filled and anointed disciple
被聖靈充滿和膏抹的信徒在祈禱時所發出的能力
（Acts 19:12，15；16:17，18）
Biblical principles of Discernment
of Demonization
2. Satan is anti-Christ
Satan blasphemes or curses Jesus Christ and does
not confess that Jesus is Lord
( 1 Corinthians 12:3)
Satan does not acknowledge that Jesus has
come in the flesh( 1 John 4:3)
Christian Activities that Force
Demons to Manifest
*Proclamation of faith 宣告──認信：
I _______proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and
acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God
我______承認耶穌基督是主，並承認主耶穌是成了肉身來
的
My spirit within _______also proclaims that Jesus Christ
is Lord and acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from
God
我______裡面的靈也承認耶穌基督是主，並承認主耶穌是
成
Manifestations of Demonization
邪靈顯現時的表現
1. Acute Manifestations provoked by
Christian activities
突發性的邪靈顯現
在進行屬靈的活動時引發的
2. Chronic manifestations
持續性被鬼壓制的表現
對辨別邪靈上幫助不大
Acute Manifestations provoked by Christian activities
突發性的邪靈顯現
(1) Body sensations
身體感覺的突變
─凍冷感覺，痲痺，壓住，頂住，電流，
氣流，作嘔
─乃主觀感覺，別人未必會察覺，
所以要詢問當事人才得知
(2)Uncontrollable mood changes
情緒的突變─突然而來的焦慮，驚慌，哀傷，憤怒，混
亂，痛苦，甚至冷笑，大喊大叫
(3) Thoughts intrusion
思想的突變─腦海突然湧現粗口，淫穢的意念，褻瀆神、
咒詛神的思想，或忽然裡面有一 把聲音向自己說話
突然顯得迷惘，不能思考
Acute Manifestations provoked by Christian
activities
突發性的邪靈顯現
(4) Sudden change in the tone of voice or talk like
another person or in another identity
言語的突變
─聲線突變，如轉變為男聲
─突然以鬼神自稱，以當事人為第三者
─出言恐嚇，咒罵你
─忽然間很難開口唱詩，認信，認罪，棄絕鬼魔或讀經
Acute Manifestations provoked by Christian
activities
突發性的邪靈顯現
(5)Strange expressions and behaviors
怪異表情，行為動作
─眼反白，不能睜開眼睛，顫抖，身軀或手腳
不
受控制地搖動
─奇異手勢，手印，手腳僵直，肌肉跳動，抽
筋，
跌低，禽獸動作
─嘔吐，逃避你的目光，不敢正視十字架，忽
然
拔足狂奔，想逃走
Can Christians be Demonized ?
基督徒可以被鬼附嗎？
Christians cannot be POSSOSSED (ownership) by demons
基督徒有聖靈內住, 屬於基督, 所以不可能被魔
鬼或邪靈擁有（possessed）
But Christians can be demonized
但基督徒因犯罪, 給魔鬼留地步(foothold)（約壹三
8,9；弗四27）, 到了某一程度, 邪靈可以依附
( attached) 在他們生命中的某些層面，壓制他們
(under control) , 使他們失去某程度的自由自主
(partial loss of freedom and autonomy)
Questions & Answers
Biblical Guidelines for Deliverance Prayer
Lk 10:17-20；Mt 12:28 ; Acts19:13-16 seven sons of
Sceva
1. Disciples of Christ who are given authority over
demons
有權柄勝過魔鬼的基督門徒
2. Cast out in the name of Jesus Christ and by the
power of the Holy Spirit
奉主耶穌基督的名驅趕邪靈
3. Do not rejoice because you can overpower demons,
but rejoice because people are set free and saved.
Biblical Guidelines for Deliverance Prayer
Mk 9:14-29 ; Mt 17:14-21; Lk 9:37-42
4. Identify and remove obstacles to deliverance
Lack of faith : disciples, escort, the demonized
Mk 9:23 Everything is possible for him who believes
9:24 I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief
Unconfessed sins, strongholds, disobedience
2Cor 10:4,5 we take captive every thought to make it obedient
to Christ
5. Prayer and Fasting Mk 9:29
Biblical Guidelines for Deliverance Prayer
6. Fill the void with a heart of continuing
submission to God
Lk 11: 24-26
24 “When
an impure spirit comes out of a person,
it goes through arid places seeking rest and
does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to
the house I left.’
25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept
clean and put in order.
26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more
wicked than itself, and they go in and live
there. And the final condition of that person is
worse than the first.”
The Practice of Submission
James 4:7,8
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and he will come
near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and
Purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Eph 5:18 be filled with the Spirit
300.15 Other Specified
Dissociative Disorder
Presenting with symptoms of dissociative
disorders
Cause significant distress or functional
impairment
Yet does not meet the criteria for any
specified dissociative disorder
1. Chronic and recurrent syndromes of mixed
dissociative disorder
4. Dissociative trance
Other Specified Dissociative
Disorder
1. Co-morbidity: OSDD can coexist with
other psychiatric diagnosis
Other Specified Dissociative
Disorder
2. For certain cases, the OSDD could be elicited by
Christian activities such as prayer, proclamation
of faith, confession of sins, renunciation of idol
worship, reading the scripture or praise and
worship of God.
When such activities are suspended, the trance or
possession trance disappeared almost
immediately
The OSDD reappeared when such activities are
resumed as shown in the demo video recordings
Other Specified Dissociative
Disorder
3. The usual treatment for OSDD involves
insight-oriented psychotherapy, often in
association with hypnotherapy or drugassisted abreaction
4. But for these specific cases(OSDD elicited by
Christian activities), I find that spiritual
intervention or rituals such as prayer
counseling and the deliverance prayer (casting
out of demons in the name of Jesus Christ) can
cure this kind of disorder**
Common Medical or Psychiatric Illnesses
misdiagnosed as Demon Possession
(my clinical experience)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Complex partial seizure
Delirium e.g. due to CVA or encephalitis
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Sleep paralysis
Hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations
Dissociative Disorders
Faith-based Christian Prayer
Counseling
Seven Unique Characteristics
1. God is the Healer , not the counselor, healing is by the
power and love of God
2. The counselor acts as a mediator –a messenger of love
from God and an intercessor for the counselee
3. The counselor seeks for guidance of the Holy Spirit
through listening prayer; and listen and pray for the
counselee throughout the counseling process
Faith-based Christian Prayer
Counseling
4. Directive approach with the use of
biblical exhortation and teaching, and
other spiritual gifts
5. Encourage confession of sins, repentance
and help clients experience divine
forgiveness and love
Faith-based Christian Prayer
Counseling
6. Encourage to forgive others as we are
forgiven by God
7. The goal is psychological and spiritual
growth
self-acceptance
self- actualization
Christ-actualization
Faith-based Christian Prayer
Counseling
Can we use this form of counseling for nonChristians ?
Yes, but the prerequisite is to obtain their
consent
Faith-based Christian Prayer
Counseling
Particularly useful in clients with:
1. Addictions e.g. sex , internet, gambling
Unwanted same sex attraction and desire
to leave their homosexual lifestyle
2. Deep interpersonal hurts e.g. inflicted by
family
3. Sexual abuse
The Twelve Steps for Addictions Groups
1. We admitted we were powerless over our
addiction—that our lives had become
unmanageable
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than
ourselves could restore us to sanity
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our
lives over to the care of God as we
understood Him
The Twelve Steps for Addictions Groups
4. Made a searching and fearless moral
inventory of ourselves
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another
human being the exact nature of our wrongs
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all
these defects of character
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our
shortcomings
The Twelve Steps for Addictions Groups
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed,
and became willing to make amends to all of
them
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever
possible, except when to do so would injure
them or others
10. Continued to take personal inventory, and
when we were wrong, promptly admitted it
The Twelve Steps for Addictions Groups
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to
improve our conscious contact with God as
we understood Him, praying only for
knowledge of His will for us and the power
to carry that through
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the
result of these steps , we tried to carry this
message to addicts and to practice these
principles in all our affairs
Some successful cases and their personal
testimony
1. A young lady suffering from acute
psychotic symptoms of delusions and
hallucinations
2. A young man suffering from depression
with repeated suicide attempts
3. A lady who suffered from depression
and repeated suicide attempts related
to childhood sexual abuse
Steps to Forgive
1. Overcome the obstacles of forgiveness
2. Make a list of the people you need to forgive
and choose one to start with
Steps to Forgive
3. Write down
a. your accusations—how you were
hurt
b. possible mitigation factors
c. your wrongs in retaliation
d. acknowledge anything good about
the person accused
Steps to Forgive
4. Write a letter addressed to the accused person
including the above points from a to d, and
conclude with the expression of your
willingness to forgive, but do not send the
letter to that person.
Steps to Forgive
5. Find a person that you trust and read the
letter aloud. Be in touch with the feelings
deep down as you read it.
6. Forgiveness is often a process and it takes
time to complete
References on Demon Possession
Kraft, H. Charles. Defeating Dark Angels.
England, Tonbridge: Sovereign World,
1993.
Montgomery, W. John (ed.). Demon Possession.
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany
Fellowship,1976.
Murphy, Ed. The Handbook for Spiritual
Warfare. Revised and Updated Version.
Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson,
1996.
Peck ,M. Scott. Glimpses of the Devil. New
York: Free Press,2005.
References on Christian Prayer Counseling
Anderson, Neil. The Bondage Breaker. Eugene,
Oregon: Harvest House,1990.
Collins, R. Gary. Christian Counseling: A
Comprehensive Guide. Rev. & Exp. Ed. England,
Milton Keynes: Word Publishing,1988.
Kraft, H. Charles. Deep Wounds Deep Healing. Ann
Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications,1993.
Payne, Leanne. Listening Prayer. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Books,1994
Payne, Leanne. Restoring the Christian Soul through
Healing Prayer. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway
Books,1991.
References on Christian Prayer Counseling
William, P. Wilson. The Grace to Grow: The Power of Christian
Faith in Emotional Healing. Waco, Texas: Word Books,
1984.
劉世增《因為我耶和華是醫治你的》，
以利亞使團，2003.
Q &A
Possession Syndrome
Little systematic research so far
John L. Nevius, “Demon Possession”
reprint from 1894, pp. 278, 290.
(Christian missionary in China for 40 years)
Signs of Demon Possession
Automatic presentation and persistent and consistent
acting out of a new personality
a. The new personality says he is a demon
b. First person for the demon, third person for the
possessed
c. The demon uses title or names
Signs of Demon Possession cont’d
d.
e.
The new personality possesses knowledge and
intellectual power not possessed by the subject
There is a complete change in moral character
( aversion and hatred to God and especially to
Christ)
The Clinical Characteristics of
Possession Disorder Among 20
Chinese Patients in the Hebei
Province of China
Albert C. Gaw, M.D., Qin-zhang Ding, M.D., Ruth
E. Levine, M.D. and
Hsiao-feng Gaw, L.I.C.S.W
Psychiatr Serv,
October 1, 1999; 50(10): 1367 - 1368
RESULTS
Demographic Characteristics
mean age 37 years
female (85%), married (85%),
peasant background (80%).
little or no education (95%):
50% had attended primary school,
45% had no formal education
religious affiliation 25% yes 75% no
Clinical Characteristics
Possessing agents :spirits of deceased
individuals, deities, animals, and devils.
20% reported multiple possessions.
The initial experience of possession typically
came on acutely and often became a chronic
relapsing illness.
Clinical Characteristics
Almost all subjects manifested two symptoms
1. loss of control over their actions and
2. acting differently.
They frequently showed loss of awareness of
surroundings, loss of personal identity, inability to
distinguish reality from fantasy, change in tone of
voice, and loss of perceived sensitivity to pain.
CONCLUSIONS
The disorder is a syndrome with distinct
clinical characteristics that adheres most
closely to the DSM-IV diagnosis of
Dissociative Trance Disorder under the
category of Dissociative Disorder NOS
Possession Syndrome
The possession syndrome: a comparison of
Hong Kong and French findings.
Prof. YAP PM
J Ment Sci. 1960 Jan;106:114-37.
Prof. YAP PM
Examined 65 subjects( 50 females, 15 males)
Admitted to HK Mental Hospital over a 2 year period
Represented 2.4% of all first admissions
Age comparable to general population
Overrepresentation of widowed and divorced
Diagnosis included Hysteria
48%
Schizophrenia 24%
Depression
12%
Mania
6%
Prof. YAP PM
38 /65 cases exhibited some degree of clouding of
consciousness, skin anaesthesia, identity
alteration and amnesia
Follow-up study revealed
41 cases (60%of all cases)with hysteria, depression were well
2/3 of the schizophrenics remained symptomatic
300.14 Dissociative Identity Disorder
A. The presence of two or more distinct identities
or personality states (each with its own
relatively enduring pattern of perceiving,
relating to, and thinking about the
environment and self).
B. At least two of these identities or personality
states recurrently take control of the person's
behavior.
300.14 Dissociative Identity Disorder
C. Inability to recall important personal
information that is too extensive to be
explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
D. The disturbance is not due to the direct
physiological effects of a substance(e.g.,
blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol
intoxication) or a general medical condition
(e.g., complex partial seizures).
Note: In children, the symptoms are not
attributable to imaginary playmates or other
fantasy play
300.15 Dissociative Disorder Not
Otherwise Specified
Refers to
Disorders in which the predominant feature is a
Dissociative symptom (i.e., a disruption in the
usually integrated functions of consciousness,
memory, identity, or perception of the
environment)
that does not meet the criteria for any specific
Dissociative Disorder
300.15 Dissociative Disorder Not
Otherwise Specified
Examples include
1. Clinical presentations similar to Dissociative Identity
Disorder but fail to meet full criteria for this disorder
a) there are not two or more distinct personality states, or
b) amnesia for important personal information does not
occur.
Dissociative trance disorder
Other inclusion or exclusion criteria:
Is not a normal part of a broadly accepted
collective cultural or religious practice.
Causes significant distress or functional
impairment
Not due to other psychiatric or medical conditions
(unwanted or culturally unacceptable)
ICD 10 Classification
of Mental and Behavioral Disorders
Trance and Possession Disorders
1. Trance
2. Possession Disorder
Possession trance
Examples include amok (Indonesia),
bebainan (Indonesia), latah (Malaysia),
pibloktoq (Arctic), possession (India)
ataque de nervios (Latin America)