Two Books on Exorcism

"Exorcism: Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult" by Fr Jose Francisco Syquia is a true narration of the author's adventures as an exorcist in the Philippines. Published in 2006, the account is set recent and interspersed with teachings Fr Syquia has studied.

In parallel, "The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist" by Matt Baglio (2009) tells the account of Fr Gary Thomas, who was a skeptic of modern-day demonic possession, until he has had to undergo a course on it in Rome. The skeptic-turned-exorcist Fr Thomas tells his journey under the tutelage of a renowned exorcist (who accepts cases in a church as would a doctor in a clinic), until such time he has to lead an exorcism himself.

Aside from exorcism and the supernatural being real and practiced until now––the Modern Age of Science––the following are noteworthy in the two books:

1) Having been involved with the occult and the New Age Movement (beyond-curious or habitual interest in Astrology, Numerology, Tarot cards, fortune telling, etc.) or being an occult practitioner increases the chances of you being obsessed, oppressed or possessed. Having a sinful lifestyle will do so too.

2) Temptation from the devil is an ordinary demonic activity, while unusual types of demonic harassments are possession, oppression, obsession and infestation.

3) Possession is a state of full control over a body (but not the soul) by demon(s). The mental, affective and volitive faculties of a patient are suspended. Obsession is characterized by thoughts that spring up momentarily or more frequently. These thoughts may be absurd, blasphemous, shameful, horrifying. They come especially at night. When suicidal in nature, the obsession would be at a dangerous level. Oppression is defined more variedly: burdens or afflictions that torment, affecting one's health, emotional and psychological well-being, spiritual life, relationships and work. Such misfortunes may come from nowhere. Deliverance prayers would be adequate for the latter two, while an exorcism is required for possession. Infestation is locational or material control of the demons. This may involve objects accepted from occult practitioners, or houses that are haunted.

4) Fortune tellers border the Quiapo church––an irony of strong forces localized.

5) Albularyos sometimes work because they call on to spirits that may be stronger than the spirits that have caused the illness. A visit to the albularyo may incur wasted money: getting healed on the first visit might assure the albularyo a second visit; thus the albularyo may implant on you another sickness.

6) Deliverance prayers can be thought of as a private exorcism. Crucial is the praying individual's faith for the success of the deliverance.

7) Trained exorcists discern the psychological from the non-human. An exorcist might say a prayer in Latin, dual-purpose: To check if the human reacts from it as a demon would, and to not traumatize a potential possessed individual.

8) Different exorcists have different styles. Different possessed humans have different reactions to different exorcists.

9) Demons do not want to get noticed. They'd manifest scientifically or naturally to deceive, especially the exorcists.

10) Being sinful makes you vulnerable to spiritual attacks (curses that may be spoken unintentionally or otherwise, spells).

11) Demons are fallen angels that are experts at deception. They may know secrets and use these to assault an exorcist or his team (which may include a psychiatrist, a doctor, a charismatic group).

There is an archdiocese in Manila, an office in Exorcism. http://exorcismphilippines.com/
Read this recent interview with Fr Syquia: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/339374/the-exorci

Eiga Sai: Villain

"Villain", one of the films of Eiga Sai, the Japanese film festival held at Shangri-la, is a story of the two alternative theme interactions of love and irrationality: 1) How people are able to do stupid things (or weird) out of love for a person; 2) But more uncommonly, what love can do to irrationality.

The former talks of love as the cause to irrationality, such as how a death of a daughter urges a father to try to hunt down her daughter's murderer to seek justice extremely. The slightest defamation of his daughter's death would mean attacking with a wrench, an act only to be punctuated by his realization that some people laugh at other people's irrationalities because these people do not know how it's like to love. They laugh at other people's miseries, thinking it's comedic how fathers could go so far as to confront strangers and fall down pathetically for their daughters. But, in this laughing, they do not see the value of crying because of love. Another undertone is that of the female protagonist Mitsuyo–how in desperate need of love, she succumbs to a stranger from a dating site.

The latter revolves around irrationality as the cause to love. This delves with irrationality as a premise, and with what can love do to save it? as a question. Little did Mitsuyo know that the stranger was a murderer, named Yuichi, until he confesses to have killed the daughter of the irrational father. The confession would be ignored by Mitsuyo because: 1) the murder was an accident triggered by a malicious threat of the daughter; but more importantly 2) she's seen the side of Yuichi that knows how to love. She still is determined to love him, perhaps even more.  The news announces he is wanted for murder. Falling in love for the first time, Mitsuyo continues to fight for her love with Yuichi and flees with him, until she discovers that Yuichi is really a sociopath. This discovery is unfortunate however: in the middle of lovemaking, he snaps and tries to strangle her. 

The authorities find them in a lighthouse, just in time to rescue a breathless Mitsuyo. However, we see Yuichi trying to reach for the hand of Mitsuyo as he is taken away by the police. This indicates that he really loved Mitsuyo, albeit his love was temporarily restrained by his condition. 

Had Yuichi not been taken in by the police, Mitsuyo would still have loved him despite his fits.

The emotional battles of the different characters converge at a denouement: how acknowledging love becomes key to acceptance of the irrational.

"It's not ___, it's __"

Not about fondness, but of friendship

HUMANITY
Not culture (pressure), not tradition (habit), but of divine
Not logic, not emotion, but just measures and fair scales
Not irrational, but just human
Not logical, but just human

Not existence, but life

RELATIONSHIP
Not parasitic nor commensal, but mutual
Not wasting time, but spending time
Not correspondence, but friendship
Not romantic, not platonic, not brotherly, but raw love
Not about the label, but the feel
Not pleasure, but gladness
Not power of friendship, but raw trust and belief--simple yet powerful
Not hate, but love--hard though undeserved, albeit right

Not resolution, but reconciliation
Not problem, but relationship

SCIENCE
Not dilute nor saturate, but concentrate
Not filtration, but titration
Not the endpoint, but the change
Not so much of the change as with the changing

Not virtual, but real
Not idealistic, but realistic

CHANGE
Not servitude, but help
Not passive, but passion
A temporary distraction, a transient refocus
Not presence, but influence
Not change, but improvement
Not progress, but growth

Not a struggle, but a striving
Not so much of the way than it is with the will

LANGUAGE
Not to give up and tire, but a pause and a rest
Not a period, but a comma
Not punctuation, but conjunction

Not about not's, but about but's
Not adjective, but verb
Not words, but deeds

Not so much with the beatings and blows as it is with the healing and hello's

Not to keep it up, but to keep up
Not to keep it up, but to keep it