Demons in Africa

[runningdude]

I was recently discussing a phonomenon of demon possession in parts of Africa where there is a lot of non-denominational Christian missionary activity. The particular beliefs involve non-Christian children being "dedicated"/cursed with a demon at birth as an appeasement for good crops/luck/etc. Upon conversion to Christianity (at least the non-denominational and independent Baptist branches), they believe that the Holy Spirit comes to possess the convert, driving the demon out, resulting in some converts, upon accepting Christ as their personal savior in the Baptist manner. This phenomenon they claim is manifested in some new converts swaying and convulsing, and others present will matter-of-factly remove any children from harms way, and move the convert to a private room to be prayed over while the demon is driven out.

Now, I take these reports with a grain of salt, as their are many possible explanations for this activity. I also know that its not total hooey, as the Catholic Church in fact incorporates minor rites of exorcism into Baptism for infants and rights of initiation for adults. So I guess my question is kind of open ended, but to what extent has the Catholic Church acknowledged this demon activity to be real, versus empty superstitions that cause people fear and distance from the true Lord? Have Catholic missionaries or volunteers, past or present witnessed this and believed it authentic? Anyone personally see this happen?

Thank you in advance for your polite and respectful responses

[Barbkw]

Fr. Euteneuer (Human Life International) is also an exorcist.

Fr. Euteneuer was on EWTN with Johnette Benkovic. As he explained it, there are three levels of possession. Each level becomes more severe depending on the depth that people allow these demonic spirits into their lives.

People have to ask demonic spirits in.

Photo:

http://www.google.com/search?q=fr.+e...8&sourceid=ie7

Web articles:

http://www.google.com/search?q=fr.+e...8&sourceid=ie7

Fr. Euteneuer's books on demons & exorcism:

http://www.amazon.com/Exorcism-Churc.../dp/1559220600

http://www.amazon.com/Demonic-Aborti...4657654&sr=1-2

[mangy dog]

Originally Posted by runningdude

I was recently discussing a phonomenon of demon possession in parts of Africa where there is a lot of non-denominational Christian missionary activity. The particular beliefs involve non-Christian children being "dedicated"/cursed with a demon at birth as an appeasement for good crops/luck/etc. Upon conversion to Christianity (at least the non-denominational and independent Baptist branches), they believe that the Holy Spirit comes to possess the convert, driving the demon out, resulting in some converts, upon accepting Christ as their personal savior in the Baptist manner. This phenomenon they claim is manifested in some new converts swaying and convulsing, and others present will matter-of-factly remove any children from harms way, and move the convert to a private room to be prayed over while the demon is driven out.

Now, I take these reports with a grain of salt, as their are many possible explanations for this activity. I also know that its not total hooey, as the Catholic Church in fact incorporates minor rites of exorcism into Baptism for infants and rights of initiation for adults. So I guess my question is kind of open ended, but to what extent has the Catholic Church acknowledged this demon activity to be real, versus empty superstitions that cause people fear and distance from the true Lord? Have Catholic missionaries or volunteers, past or present witnessed this and believed it authentic? Anyone personally see this happen?

Thank you in advance for your polite and respectful responses

I have seen this happen in adult baptisms and at prayer meetings. I don't know that Africa has more of these cases than any other place in the world. Surely the demonic activity is high in the US also, for various reasons.

This is not superstition. Demonic possession, obsession and oppression is quite real and a very real problem a lot closer to home than we might imagen.

[gurneyhalleck1]

Why is Africa such a demon magnet anyway?

[Barbkw]

"The particular beliefs involve non-Christian children being "dedicated"/cursed with a demon at birth as an appeasement for good crops/luck/etc."

Parents are asking demons into their families.

[runningdude]

Originally Posted by gurneyhalleck1

Why is Africa such a demon magnet anyway?

Well, I don't know about Africa specifically being a "magnet", just that the particular conversation was about demonic activity a non-Catholic friend believes she witnessed while in Africa.

[KathleenGee]

Guerny,

First thing I noticed there was the force of nature...you see people today, they drop dead from these diseases and are gone tomorrow.

You have these refreshing rain showers around noon almost every day...you want to go out and walk around. No, you can't. There are bilharozi larvae in the mud puddles and the bugs will enter your soles of your feet and work their way up and you end up with a wormy liver.

Or you want to go out and lay down in the backyard to get a suntan...coming from the Pacific NW, this is very important. Well, they mention the 'bichos'...the little bugs...I don't see anything...then a few days later I am looking out my window and see this snake crawling along....or another time, hearing screaming and then seeing -- and smelling -- a rapid dog rushing across the grounds...or, you are getting cabin fever at this remote place...so you want to go for a walk...but as soon as you get to the crest of the hill so you can walk to the stream, two snakes suddenly rush into the grass next to the path, and all you see leaving are the tips of their tails.

Or you want to go down at the river...well, people potty in it. You can warn them to move, and they won't, the dam is opened, and the place gets flooded, and they die.

Or you, being new, don't have a roll next to the base of your door. We then have a small flood outside. You wake up the next morning and see your floor covered with these short, pale gray, tough things that look like short worms...all over the floor...and in your boots...and the natives tell you do no touch because they sting.....or you are cleaning out your drawers and some roaches jump out and as your turn your head, you see two dead, huge rubbery looking spiders right next to the dresser...and then you look outside at the telephone lines that are heavily matted with webs...those are the spiders that eat the poor little birds...

And after the flood, you wake up another morning, and here is a 6 inch centipede right next to your face 6 inches a way...and they are not good to touch. Or you go to a seminar, and the priest wakes up thinking someone is holding a stick and using it to play a joke...up at the open air vent...but it is not a prankster priest playing a trick on you...it is another snake.

Or you go visit a technical school....the friar thinks there is a cobra..I thought it was one of those stampeding and harmless lizards flying by with a cloud of dust...but...he decides to pick up a plank and throw it at the wall, and out shoots a 4 foot mamba...coming at us...and all I have to do is jump...and the cobra passes between me and beyond! not bitten ....and another man coming into the native hospital bitten by one, his leg all swollen and unfortunately he will die...or people going in to get their appendix removed, and end up getting all their reproductive organs removed as well.....you go to the hospital, run by medics, and then most likely you come out with a botched job....or the cholera, and dysentery...or all the other bacterias...the malaria...

And there was a male lay missionary who was told things they wouldn't tell me...he was in a grass hut and the priest did an exorcism and he saw a ball of fire leave the hut.

A priest said it is a miracle people can even live there.....we had Christian African teachers who freaked out hearing the Lion Man had come by the town at night....

The priests I directly worked with did not focus on the demonic...but I saw enough of it in nature.