The Exorcist Files

In ‘The Exorcist Files', the priests and laymen of the International Association of Exorcists give first-hand accounts of their terrifying experiences of the real forces of evil.

According to some, demons have been with us since the dawn of time. They say these demons have waged an endless battle against mankind for millennia... a battle that continues all around us, to this very day. But now, there are only a very few left who know how to fight them.

The Exorcist Files introduces members of the International Association of Exorcists who tell their fascinating stories, many for the very first time.

The Exorcist Files

The Exorcist Files is going to result in a lot of self-proclaimed demonologists and exorcists, who may do more harm than good!

The Discovery Channel recently announced a new TV show called The Exorcist Files. Some believe this is a really bad idea for a number of reasons....

It won't be bad for the Discovery Channel. The topics of exorcisms and demonology are rather hot right now, with several movies recently produced on the subjects, so show ratings will probably be quite good. And of course, this being television, that's all the show's producers really care about. Everything imaginable is fodder for TV's insatiable appetite for spectacle, whether it's appropriate or offensive or not (in fact, the more inappropriate or offensive the subject, the better it is as far as the medium is concerned) so why not people allegedly suffering from demonic possession?

According to an article based on promotion materials, "the series will recreate stories of 'real life' haunting and demonic possession, based on cases investigated by the Catholic Church."

While some do not advocate that the show should be censored, some do think it is going to have adverse effects. Here is what these people predict will happen as a result of this show:

A MULTITUDE OF "EXORCISTS" AND "DEMONOLOGISTS"

The arrival of Ghost Hunters on the SyFy channel several years ago, and its subsequent popularity, resulted in the organization of many hundreds of ghost hunting groups all over the country, and even abroad. They all wanted to be like Jason and Grant.

Likewise, with the airing of The Exorcist Files, we can expect a surge in the number of self-proclaimed "exorcists," "demonologists," and "demon hunters." In fact, I would not be surprised if the success of The Exorcist Files generated similarly themed shows on other cable networks; expect one called Demon Hunters.

Why this is a bad thing: Most of these self-proclaimed demonologists won't know what the hell they're doing. They're going to be entering people's homes, telling them that their houses are infested with demons, telling them that they are possessed (in the worst cases, that their children are possessed), and that they can drive out these devils.

This will give permission for every dummy out there to go into these private homes with crosses around their necks, vials of holy water, old Bibles and copies of the exorcism rite and say that they are representing God's power to defeat the Devil. And people will let them because, well, it's done on TV, so this must be the thing to do.

THIS IS NOT LIKE GHOST HUNTING

Ghost hunting groups, with few exceptions, do no harm. They generally investigate haunted places such as asylums, old hotels, abandoned hospitals, and the like that have reputations for being haunted. Although they may occasionally investigate a private home upon invitation, this is not their usual practice. And when they do take on a private home, they are investigating the house or the building - not the individuals who live there.

Exorcism, by definition, is personal. The exorcist is dealing with individuals who believe they are possessed by an evil spirit. And the demonologist performing an exorcism rite on them can be, to the individuals, confirmation that they are possessed. This has all kinds of potential for harm.

Think about it. The idea that you - your identity, your personality, your soul, if you will - is possessed or compromised by an evil spiritual force is horrifying. It can affect a person on a deep psychological level, especially if he or she is a fervent believer. And to have an untrained, unqualified person come in and perform an exorcism could be disastrous. And make no mistake, it's going to happen. These would-be demonologists are going to see it on TV, perhaps read a few articles or books, and then think they are qualified to take on this business.

Whether demons are real or not is irrelevant. The people involved believe them to be real. There could be any number of reasons why a person might exhibit behaviour that believers attribute to demonic possession, from schizophrenia to sexual abuse to teenage acting out. These are matters for medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and trained therapists - not a person who has watched a TV show and read a book or two, no matter how well-meaning.

And if the person is truly possessed by an evil spirit, then that's all the more reason not to have an unqualified person sticking his or her nose into it. (This raises the questions: Who is qualified for such a task and how do they become qualified? Yes, the Catholic Church has training for its exorcists, but beyond that, I don't know.)