Exorcism and Deliverance: Multi-disciplinary Studies

Since Jesus of Nazareth made exorcism a cornerstone of his own ministry, the Church has seen itself as engaged in a battle against the demonic. Exorcism has continued to play a role throughout Christian history in this conflict, although it has received different emphases in different times and places, and has been practiced in a range of different ways. Exorcism and Deliverance aims to shed new light on the phenomena of possession and exorcism by looking at them from a range of disciplinary perspectives. After an introduction to issues raised for theology by non-theological studies of possession, the book moves on to consider demons and deliverance in the Old and New Testaments, the Patristic period, the twentieth century West, Pentecostalism, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, theology, and practical theology. The diversity of essays makes sure that every facet is presented to encourage the reader thoroughly to consider this aspect of the church's approach to evil in our society.