Spiritual warfare

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Luca Giordano's The Fall of the Rebel Angels, a common image of spiritual warfare GIORDANO, Luca fallen angels.jpg
Luca Giordano's The Fall of the Rebel Angels , a common image of spiritual warfare

Spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of fighting against the work of preternatural evil forces. It is based on the belief in evil spirits, or demons, that are said to intervene in human affairs in various ways. [1] Although spiritual warfare is a prominent feature of neo-charismatic churches, various other Christian denominations and groups have also adopted practices rooted in the concepts of spiritual warfare, with Christian demonology often playing a key role in these practices and beliefs, or had older traditions of such a concept unrelated to the neo-charismatic movement, such as the exorcistic prayers of the Catholic Church and the various Eastern Orthodox churches. [2] The term spiritual warfare is used broadly by different Christian movements and in different contexts: "by charismatics, evangelicals, and Calvinists, and applied to missiology, counseling, and women." [3]

Contents

Prayer is one common form of spiritual warfare practiced amongst these Christians. [4] Other practices may include exorcism, the laying on of hands, fasting with prayer, praise and worship, and anointing with oil.

Doctrines of spiritual warfare and exorcism

Mainstream Christian demonology

Mainstream Christianity typically acknowledges a belief in the existence (or ontological existence) of demons, fallen angels, the Devil and Satan. [5] In Christian evangelism, doctrines of demonology are influenced by interpretations of the New Testament, namely interpretations of the Gospels, in that dealing with spirits became a customary activity of Jesus' ministry. Mark the Evangelist states that "he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons" (Mark 1:39). [6]

Spiritual warfare in the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul has traditionally been attributed as the writer of the Book of Ephesians, the tenth book of the New Testament, although it is more likely the work of one of his disciples. [7] Within 6:10–12 of Ephesians, Paul addresses spiritual warfare and how to combat spiritual attacks; "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." [8] The majority of modern spiritual warfare theology is based on this chapter of Ephesians. [9] [3]

Evangelical Christian demonology

Evangelical Christian denominations typically believe that Satan and his agents exert significant influence over the world and its power structures.[ citation needed ] They believe that a conflict exists involving territorial spirits or other hostile spiritual forces, based on passages such as 1 John 5:19 ("the whole world is under the control of the evil one") and John 12:31, John 14:30 and John 16:11, where Jesus refers to Satan as "the prince of this world". [6] Other verses cited include the apostle Paul's elaboration on a hierarchy of "rulers", in Ephesians 6:12, taken to be "demonic" in interpretation. They also believe that Paul's epistles focus on Jesus' victory over these powers. To this end, evangelical interpretations divide history into two eras: the "present evil age", and the "age to come", in reference to the Second Coming of Jesus. [6]

Evangelical imagery of spiritual warfare is derived from various parts of the Bible, particularly the Book of Revelation wherein the 'beasts' and 'kings of the earth' wage war against God's people (Revelation 19:19) after the War in Heaven (Revelation 12:7), sparking a final battle with Satan and earthly nations against God (Revelation 20:8). [10]

Evangelical Christians base the practice of exorcism on their understanding of Jesus' statement "If I drive out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is upon you" at Matthew 12:28, Luke 11:20. [6]

Practices in Christianity

The Spiritual Warfare (c. 1623), a print by Martin Droeshout depicting the Devil's army besieging a walled city, held by a "Christian Soldier bold" guarded by figures representing the Christian virtues. It has been suggested that this print may have influenced John Bunyan to write The Holy War. The Spiritual Warfare.jpg
The Spiritual Warfare (c. 1623), a print by Martin Droeshout depicting the Devil's army besieging a walled city, held by a "Christian Soldier bold" guarded by figures representing the Christian virtues. It has been suggested that this print may have influenced John Bunyan to write The Holy War .

Catholic practices

The most notable of spiritual warfare prayers in the Catholic tradition is known as the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel. [13]

Pope John Paul II stated that "'Spiritual combat'... is a secret and interior art, an invisible struggle in which monks engage every day against the temptations". [14]

In modern times, the views of individual Roman Catholics of spiritual warfare have tended to divide into traditional and more modern understandings of the subject. An example of a more modern view of the demonic is found in the work of the Dominican scholar Richard Woods' The Devil.

The traditional outlook is represented by Father Gabriele Amorth, who has written three books on his personal experiences as an exorcist for the Vatican: An Exorcist Tells His Story, and An Exorcist: More Stories, and An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels. [15] Francis MacNutt, who was a priest within the Roman Catholic Charismatic movement, has also addressed the subject of the demonic in his writings about healing.

Lutheranism, Anglicanism and Reformed Christianity

The practice of exorcism was also known among the first generation of teachers and pastors in the Lutheran Reformation. Johannes Bugenhagen was the pastor of the Wittenberg town church and officiated at Martin Luther's wedding. In a letter addressed to Luther and Melanchthon dated November 1530, Pomeranus recounted his experience of dealing with a young girl who showed signs of demon possession. Pomeranus' method involved counseling the girl concerning her previous baptismal vows, he invoked the name of Christ and prayed with her. (Letter reproduced in Montgomery, Principalities and Powers).

The Anglican-Puritan writer William Gurnall wrote a lengthy three-volume work, The Christian in Complete Armour, published between 1662 and 1665. In this work Gurnall stressed the place of reading Scripture, prayer and the name of Christ.

Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy

Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, and the Charismatic movement

In the American revival tradition among evangelicals, prominent 19th- and 20th-century preachers such as D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, R. A. Torrey and Billy Graham have all affirmed their belief in the existence of the demonic and had occasions to recount some of their own spiritual warfare encounters.[ citation needed ] In the 19th century, one of the major evangelical authorities on demon possession was the missionary to China, John Livingstone Nevius.[ citation needed ]

Spiritual warfare has become a prominent feature in Pentecostal traditions and the concept is well embedded in Pentecostal history. Expositors of spiritual warfare include Jessie Penn-Lewis, who published the Pentecostal 1903 book War on the Saints , arising from the Welsh Revival in the early twentieth century. [16] Starting in the 1950s with the charismatic Latter Rain movement, demonology began to grow in importance. British charismatic Michael Harper popularised the term spiritual warfare in his 1970 book of the same name. [3] In 1976, prolific author Pastor Win Worley began the publication of his Hosts of Hell series, containing elements of the concept of spiritual warfare, if not explicitly using the expression.[ citation needed ] The third-wave charismatic movement of today—notably C. Peter Wagner and Cindy Jacobs – have been at the forefront of newer conceptions of spiritual warfare.

Since the 1980s, the concept has spread from the charismatic world to broader evangelicalism; traditional boundaries between the two on the issue have eroded. This form of spiritual warfare has become especially popular among American evangelicals. [3] [17] American studies scholar S. Jonathon O'Donnell defines spiritual warfare: "A key idea in spiritual warfare is that demons don’t only attack people, as in depictions of demonic possession, but also take control of places and institutions, such as journalism, academia, and both municipal and federal bureaucracies. By doing so, demons are framed as advancing social projects that spiritual warriors see as opposing God’s plans." [17] In 1991, Wagner published Confronting the Powers: How the New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare and edited Territorial Spirits. [18] [19] In 1992, Dr. Ed Murphy wrote a modern 600-page book on the subject, The Handbook of Spiritual Warfare, from the point of view of deliverance ministry. [20] Laws of Deliverance, From Proverbs (1980, 1983, 1995, 2000, 2003), written by Marilyn A. Ellsworth, is another important work of authority, as is her book ICBM Spiritual Warfare, God's Unbeatable Plan. Other Pentecostal and charismatic pastors include Don Basham, Derek Prince, Bishop Larry Gaiters, Reverend Miguel Bustillos, Dr. Marcus Haggard, and missionary Norman Parish, who have emphasized using the power of the blood of Christ in the deliverance ministry.[ citation needed ]

Sean McCloud comments, "In addition to shared supernatural themes, Third Wave spiritual warfare manuals resemble—and even cite—the occult grimoires they attack as demonic". [21]

During the late 20th century, Evangelical writers such as Mark Bubeck and Merrill Unger presented their theological and pastoral response to demonic phenomena. The problem of demon possession and spiritual warfare became the subject of a Christian Medical Association symposium that was held in 1975. This symposium brought together a range of evangelical scholars in biblical studies, theology, psychology, anthropology, and missiology.[ citation needed ]

One of the most significant German writers is the Lutheran Kurt E. Koch whose work, including the 1973 book Occult ABC, has influenced much of both evangelical and charismatic thought in the late twentieth century. The impact of his ideas has been recently[ when? ] examined by the folklore specialist Bill Ellis.[ citation needed ]

The development of specific spiritual warfare techniques has also generated many discussions in the Christian missions community. Critical exchanges of views may be found in periodicals such as the Evangelical Missions Quarterly [22] and in conferences sponsored by the Evangelical Missions Society. In 2000, an international collaborative attempt was made by evangelicals and charismatics in the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization to reach some common agreement about spiritual warfare. The conference gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, and yielded a consultation document as well as many technical papers published as the book Deliver Us from Evil.

Spiritual mapping and the Charismatic movement

Spiritual mapping refers to the 21st-century belief among some Evangelicals that all history is a battle between Satan and God and that there are currently specific demons associated with specific locations (territorial spirits). Neo-Evangelicals who follow the spiritual mapping movement believe that these demons are the reason of lack of success for Christian missionaries and that they can use prayer and other Evangelical religious practices to counteract and drive out these demons. This, in turn, will accelerate the second coming of Christ. [23] [24] Missiologist George Otis coined the term in 1990 and C. Peter Wagner was a key figure in popularizing the concept. [25] [26] [27]

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are engaged in a "spiritual, theocratic warfare" against false teachings and wicked spirit forces they say try to impede them in their preaching work. [28] Where their religious beliefs have been in conflict with national laws or other authorities—particularly in countries where their work is banned—they have advocated the use of "theocratic war strategy" to protect their interests, by hiding the truth from God's "enemies", [29] [30] being evasive, or withholding truthful or incriminating information. [31] [32] [33] The Watchtower told Witnesses: "It is proper to cover over our arrangements for the work that God commands us to do. If the wolfish foes draw wrong conclusions from our maneuvers to outwit them, no harm has been done to them by the harmless sheep, innocent in their motives as doves." [34]

Christian teachings on the occult

In May 2021, the Baptist Deliverance Study Group of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, a Christian denomination, issued a "warning against occult spirituality following the rise in people trying to communicate with the dead". [35] The commission reported that "Becoming involved in activities such as Spiritualism can open up a doorway to great spiritual oppression which requires a Christian rite to set that person free." [35]

Criticism

Outside of Evangelicalism, many Christians explicitly reject the concept of spiritual warfare. In Germany, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany and the German Evangelical Alliance consider it to be "unbiblical", [36] stating "The aggressive attitude and the presumption to fight against evil alongside or even instead of Christ, stands in opposition to the spirit of the gospel." [37] The German Evangelical Alliance published a statement denouncing the 2001 spiritual warfare trip C. Peter Wagner and his organization Global Harvest Ministries undertook to defeat the territorial spirit known as the Queen of Heaven, which Wagner and associates believed prevented Christian missions within the 40/70 window. [36]

In evangelism and worldwide Christian missions, former missionaries such as Charles Kraft and C. Peter Wagner have emphasized problems with demonic influences on the world mission fields and the need to drive demons out.[ citation needed ] Robert Guelich of Fuller Theological Seminary has questioned the extent to which spiritual warfare has shifted from its basic moorings from being a metaphor for the Christian life. He underlines how spiritual warfare has evolved into "spiritual combat" techniques for Christians to seek power over demons. Guelich argues that the writings of the Apostle Paul in the Epistle through Ephesians are focused on proclaiming the peace of God and nowhere specify any techniques for battling demons. He also argues that the novels of Frank Peretti are at odds with both the gospel narratives on demons and Pauline teaching. [38]

Missions specialists such Scott Moreau and Paul Hiebert have detected traces of animist thought encroaching on both evangelical and charismatic discourses about the demonic and spiritual warfare. Hiebert indicates that a dualist cosmology now appears in some spiritual warfare texts and it is based on the Greco-Roman mystery religions and Zoroastrian myths. However, Hiebert also chastises other evangelicals who have absorbed the modern secular outlook and have tended to downplay or even ignore the demonic. Hiebert speaks of the flaw of the excluded middle in the thinking of some evangelicals who have a cosmology of God in heaven and humans on earth, but have ignored the "middle" realm of the angelic and demonic.

American studies scholar S. Jonathan O'Donnell argues that "QAnon has many overlaps with spiritual warfare and its practitioners" and that demons are seen as part of the deep state, which ties in to Christian nationalism. [17]

Some critics have linked the rise in aggressive forms of prayer to the increasing militarization of everyday life that characterizes 20th century cultural shifts towards the widespread normalization of highly militarized discourse, particularly in the practices and rituals of religious prayer and conversion. [39] [3] Matthew D. Taylor says the language of spiritual warfare incites real-world violence against those labeled as possessed by demons and worries that rhetoric threatens democracy since one cannot negotiate with demons in good faith. [40]

E. Janet Warren argues that the term has gone from its original use as an insightful metaphor in the Bible to losing its sense as a metaphor in modern Christian language. [3]

Christian countercult movement

The excesses of allegations made in the satanic ritual abuse phenomenon of the 1980s and 1990s have prompted critical reviews of spiritual warfare thought and practices. Some apologists in the Christian countercult movement have expressed concerns that spiritual warfare techniques seem at times to have been based on spurious stories and anecdotes without careful discernment and reflection.[ citation needed ] Some of these general concerns have been expressed by apologists like Elliot Miller (Christian Research Institute), and Bob and Gretchen Passantino in various articles published in the Christian Research Journal . Others, such as Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott, have called into question the claims of alleged ex-Satanists like Mike Warnke and Lauren Stratford whose stories have subsequently influenced many popular books about spiritual warfare and the occult. Bill Ellis's work, Raising the Devil, has detected the presence of folkloric stories about the occult and demons circulating in evangelical and charismatic circles, which later become accepted as unquestioned facts.[ citation needed ]

Cultural influence

Popular fictional portrayals of spiritual warfare are found in novels by Frank E. Peretti, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness , [41] [42] and Darrin J Mason, Ominous .[ citation needed ]

Spiritual warfare themes are also present in songs by contemporary Christian music artists, such as Petra and Carman. [43]

In ReelWorksStudios and Liberty University's 2018 film The Trump Prophecy , "victory over demons is paralleled with the mass expulsion of undocumented migrants." [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demon</span> Evil supernatural being

A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in media including comics, fiction, film, television, and video games. Belief in demons probably goes back to the Paleolithic age, stemming from humanity's fear of the unknown, the strange and the horrific. In ancient Near Eastern religions and in the Abrahamic religions, including early Judaism and ancient-medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered a harmful spiritual entity that may cause demonic possession, calling for an exorcism. Large portions of Jewish demonology, a key influence on Christianity and Islam, originated from a later form of Zoroastrianism, and was transferred to Judaism during the Persian era.

Spirit possession is an unusual or an altered state of consciousness and associated behaviors which are purportedly caused by the control of a human body and its functions by spirits, ghosts, demons, angels, or gods. The concept of spirit possession exists in many cultures and religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vudú, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Wicca, and Southeast Asian, African, and Native American traditions. Depending on the cultural context in which it is found, possession may be thought of as voluntary or involuntary and may be considered to have beneficial or detrimental effects on the host. The experience of spirit possession sometimes serves as evidence in support of belief in the existence of spirits, deities or demons. In a 1969 study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, spirit-possession beliefs were found to exist in 74% of a sample of 488 societies in all parts of the world, with the highest numbers of believing societies in Pacific cultures and the lowest incidence among Native Americans of both North and South America. As Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian churches move into both African and Oceanic areas, a merger of belief can take place, with demons becoming representative of the "old" indigenous religions, which Christian ministers attempt to exorcise.

Christian views on magic vary widely among Christian denominations and among individuals. Many Christians actively condemn magic as satanic, holding that it opens the way for demonic possession. Some Christians simply view it as entertainment. Conversely, some branches of esoteric Christianity actively engage in magical practices.

Demonology is the study of demons within religious belief and myth. Depending on context, it can refer to studies within theology, religious doctrine, or occultism. In many faiths, it concerns the study of a hierarchy of demons. Demons may be nonhuman separable souls, or discarnate spirits which have never inhabited a body. A sharp distinction is often drawn between these two classes, notably by the Melanesians, several African groups, and others. The Islamic jinn, for example, are not reducible to modified human souls. At the same time these classes are frequently conceived as producing identical results, e.g. diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian demonology</span> Study of demons from a Christian point of view

Christian demonology is the study of demons from a Christian point of view. It is primarily based on the Bible, the interpretation of these scriptures, the writings of early Christianity philosophers, hermits, and the associated traditions and legends incorporated from other beliefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classification of demons</span> Differing classification systems of demons

There have been various attempts at the classification of demons within the contexts of classical mythology, demonology, occultism, and Renaissance magic. These classifications may be for purposes of traditional medicine, exorcisms, ceremonial magic, witch-hunts, lessons in morality, folklore, religious ritual, or combinations thereof. Classifications might be according to astrological connections, elemental forms, noble titles, or parallels to the angelic hierarchy; or by association with particular sins, diseases, and other calamities; or by what angel or saint opposes them.

<i>This Present Darkness</i> 1986 Christian novel by Frank E. Peretti

This Present Darkness is a Christian novel by suspense, horror, and fantasy author Frank E. Peretti. Published in 1986 by Crossway Books after first being rejected by fourteen publishing companies, This Present Darkness was Peretti's first published novel for adults and shows contemporary views on angels, demons, prayer, and spiritual warfare as demons and angels interact and struggle for control of the citizens of the small town of Ashton. It is critical of Eastern and New Age spiritual practices, portraying meditation as a means of demonic possession.

In Christianity, deliverance ministry refers to groups that perform practices to cleanse people of demons and evil spirits. These groups attribute certain people's physical, psychological, spiritual, and emotional problems to the activities of these evil spirits in their lives. Not all Christians accept the doctrines and practices of these ministries.

Frank Edward Peretti is a New York Times best-selling author of Christian fiction, whose novels primarily focus on the supernatural and spiritual warfare. As of 2012, his works have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. He has been described by TheNew York Times as creating the Christian thriller genre. Peretti is best known for his novels This Present Darkness (1986) and Piercing the Darkness (1989). Peretti has held ministry credentials with the Assemblies of God, and formerly played the banjo in a bluegrass band called Northern Cross. He now lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with his wife, Barbara.

<i>Piercing the Darkness</i> 1989 novel

Piercing the Darkness, which was published in 1989, is a sequel to Frank E. Peretti's novel This Present Darkness. It shows contemporary views on angels, demons, prayer and the spiritual realm. Piercing the Darkness won the ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award for best fiction in 1990. The book, along with This Present Darkness, has been instrumental in promoting belief among Christians in territorial spirits. They have also increased an interest in spiritual warfare. Combined, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness have sold 3.5 million copies as of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriele Amorth</span> Italian Roman Catholic priest and exorcist

Gabriele Amorth was an Italian Catholic priest of the Paulines and an exorcist for the Diocese of Rome. Amorth, along with five other priests, founded the International Association of Exorcists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prayer to Saint Michael</span> Catholic prayer

The Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel usually refers to one specific Catholic prayer to Michael the Archangel, among the various prayers in existence that are addressed to him. It falls within the realm of prayers on spiritual warfare. From 1886 to 1964, this prayer was recited after Low Mass in the Catholic Church, although not incorporated into the text or the rubrics of the Mass. Other prayers to Saint Michael have also been officially approved and printed on prayer cards. Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel by Pope Leo XIII:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all of the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

Territorial spirits are national angels, or demons who rule over certain geographical areas in the world, a concept accepted within the Charismatic movement, Pentecostalism, and Dominionist Kingdom Now theology. This belief has been popularized by the novel This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti as well as by the ministry of C. Peter Wagner and the related New Apostolic Reformation. The existence of territorial spirits is viewed as significant in spiritual warfare within these Christian groups. Related is the belief in spiritual mapping in order to locate these demonically controlled regions.

The Neo-charismaticmovement is a movement within evangelical Protestant Christianity that is composed of a diverse range of independent churches and organizations that emphasize the current availability of gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and faith healing. The Neo-charismatic movement is considered to be the "third wave" of the Charismatic Christian tradition which began with Pentecostalism, and was furthered by the Charismatic movement. As a result of the growth of postdenominational and independent charismatic groups, Neo-charismatics are now believed to be more numerous than the first and second wave categories. As of 2002, some 19,000 denominations or groups, with approximately 295 million individual adherents, were identified as Neo-charismatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exorcism</span> Evicting spiritual entities from a person or area

Exorcism is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be done by causing the entity to swear an oath, performing an elaborate ritual, or simply by commanding it to depart in the name of a higher power. The practice is ancient and part of the belief system of many cultures and religions.

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a theological belief and controversial movement that combines elements of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism and the Seven Mountain Mandate to advocate for spiritual warfare to bring about Christian dominion over all aspects of society, and end or weaken the separation of church and state. NAR leaders often call themselves apostles and prophets. The movement was founded by and heavily associated with C. Peter Wagner. Long a fringe movement of the American Christian right, it has been characterized as "one of the most important shifts in Christianity in modern times." The NAR's prominence and power have increased since the 2016 election of Donald Trump as US president. Theology professor André Gagné, author of a 2024 book on the movement, has characterized it as "inherently political" and said it threatens to "subvert democracy." American Republican politicians such as Mike Johnson, Doug Mastriano, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert and activists such as Charlie Kirk have aligned with it. Some groups within the broader Apostolic-Prophetic movement have distanced themselves from the NAR due to various criticism and controversies.

Spiritual mapping refers to the belief among some Christians that specific demons, known as territorial spirits, are associated with specific locations and can be conquered through strategic spiritual warfare by plotting out geographical areas and their perceived problems in order to pray on-site. Spiritual mapping is part of the first of three steps in spiritual warfare, defined by sociologists Brad Christerson and Richard Flory as research, prophecy, and intercession. Religious studies scholar Sean McCloud has referred to spiritual mapping as a "Third Wave [Charismatic] version of geomancy that discerns where and why demons control spaces and places, ranging from houses and neighborhoods to entire countries."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exorcism in Christianity</span> Practice of casting out one or more demons from a person

In Christianity, exorcism involves the practice of casting out one or more demons from a person whom they are believed to have possessed. The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a member of the Christian Church, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use prayers and religious material, such as set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, or amulets. The exorcist often invokes God, Jesus, angels and archangels, and various saints to aid with the exorcism. Christian exorcists most commonly cast out demons in Jesus' name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exorcism in the Catholic Church</span> The use of exorcism in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church authorizes the use of exorcism for those who are believed to be the victims of demonic possession. Initial guidelines were issue in 1614. In Roman Catholicism, exorcism is a sacramental but not a sacrament, unlike baptism or confession. Unlike a sacrament, exorcism's "integrity and efficacy do not depend ... on the rigid use of an unchanging formula or on the ordered sequence of prescribed actions. Its efficacy depends on two elements: authorization from valid and licit Church authorities, and the faith of the exorcist." The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. Peter Wagner</span> American missionary and author

Charles Peter Wagner was an American missionary, writer, teacher and founder of several Christian organizations. In his earlier years, Wagner was known as a key leader of the Church Growth Movement and later for his writings on spiritual warfare.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Arnold, Clinton E. (1997). 3 crucial questions about spiritual warfare. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Publishing Group. p. 17. ISBN   0801057841.
  2. ↑ O'Donnell, Jonathon (September 2020). Stausberg, Michael; Engler, Steven (eds.). "The deliverance of the administrative state: Deep state conspiracism, charismatic demonology, and the post-truth politics of American Christian nationalism". Religion . 50 (4). Taylor & Francis: 696–719. doi:10.1080/0048721X.2020.1810817. ISSN   1096-1151. S2CID   222094116.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Warren, E. Janet (2012). "'Spiritual Warfare': A Dead Metaphor?". Journal of Pentecostal Theology . 21 (2): 278–297. doi:10.1163/17455251-02102007. ISSN   0966-7369.
  4. ↑ Marshall, Ruth (March 2016). "Destroying arguments and captivating thoughts: Spiritual warfare prayer as global praxis". Journal of Religious and Political Practice. 2 (1). Taylor & Francis: 92–113. doi: 10.1080/20566093.2016.1085243 . ISSN   2056-6107.
  5. ↑ Merritt, Dr Timothy X. (2021-10-07). "What are Evil Spirits in the Heavenly Places?". Dr Timothy X Merritt. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Arnold, 1997, p. 20
  7. ↑ The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Letter of Paul to the Ephesians". Britannica. Retrieved November 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  8. ↑ Holy Bible, New International Version. Biblica, Inc. 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. ↑ O'Donnell, S. Jonathon (October 26, 2022). "Spiritual Warfare in America after the Cold War". In Crossley, James; Lockhart, Alastair (eds.). Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements . Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ Arnold, 1997, p. 23
  11. ↑ Jones, Malcolm, "The English Print", in Hattaway, Michael, A Companion to English Renaissance Literature and Culture, John Wiley & Sons, 2008, p. 360.
  12. ↑ Zinck, Arlette, "Dating The Spiritual Warfare Broadsheet", The Recorder: Newsletter of the International John Bunyan Society, 2007, pp. 3–4.
  13. ↑ Thigpen, Paul (2014). Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books. ISBN   978-1-61890-654-0.
  14. ↑ ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER, 5-25-02, APOSTOLIC VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II TO AZERBAIJAN AND BULGARIA,
  15. ↑ Amorth, Gabriele. An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels. Sophia Institute Press. ASIN   1622823451.
  16. ↑ Penn-Lewis, Jessie (1993). War on the Saints. CLC Publications. ISBN   978-0875086989.
  17. 1 2 3 4 O'Donnell, S. Jonathon (2020-09-14). "Demons of the deep state: how evangelicals and conspiracy theories combine in Trump's America". The Conversation . Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  18. ↑ "Confronting the Powers: How the New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare", C. Peter Wagner, 1991
  19. ↑ Territorial Spirits, C. Peter Wagner, ed., 1991
  20. ↑ "The Handbook of Spiritual Warfare", Ed Murphy
  21. ↑ McCloud, Sean (2015). American possessions: fighting demons in the contemporary United States. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN   9780190205355 – via Archive.org.
  22. ↑ Such as in volume 31, number 2 published in 1995
  23. ↑ McAlister, Elizabeth (2012). "From Slave Revolt to a Blood Pact with Satan: The Evangelical Rewriting of Haitian History". Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses. 41 (2). Studies in Religion/Sciences Religeuses: 187–215. doi:10.1177/0008429812441310. S2CID   145382199. Archived from the original on 2014-07-16.
  24. ↑ Bean, Alan (7 September 2021). "Angels from Africa: Reckoning with the New Apostolic Reformation". baptistnews.com. Baptist News. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  25. ↑ de Korte, Hannah; Onnekink, David (2020-05-28). "Maps Matter. The 10/40 Window and Missionary Geography". Exchange. 49 (2): 110–144. doi: 10.1163/1572543X-12341558 . ISSN   0166-2740.
  26. ↑ McConeghy, David W. (2013). Geographies of Prayer: Place and Religion in Modern America (Thesis). University of California, Santa Barbara.
  27. ↑ Holvast 2008, p. 65.
  28. ↑ "Flocking Together in Battle Line", The Watchtower, March 1, 1983, p. 17.
  29. ↑ "Use theocratic war strategy", The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, pp. 285, 286.
  30. ↑ "Questions from readers", The Watchtower, June 1, 1960, pp. 351–352.
  31. ↑ "Christians live the truth", The Watchtower, October 1, 1954, p. 597.
  32. ↑ Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, pp. 244–245.
  33. ↑ Examining the Scriptures Daily Archived 2010-09-13 at the Wayback Machine , May 18, 2011, "Does being truthful with others mean that we must disclose every detail to whoever asks us a question? Not necessarily ... Jehovah's people need to be on guard against apostates and other wicked men who use trickery or cunning for selfish purposes."
  34. ↑ "Cautious as Serpents Among Wolves", The Watchtower, February 1, 1956, p. 86.
  35. 1 2 Showalter, Brandon (26 May 2021). "UK Baptist group warns against occultism amid rise in grief-stricken seeking to contact the dead". The Christian Post . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  36. 1 2 "Deutsche Evangelische Allianz steht kritisch zur Gebetsinitiative gegen die 'Königin des Himmels': Gegen territoriale Kampfführung im Gebet". German Evangelical Alliance (in German). 2001-09-04. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19.
  37. ↑ Pöhlmann, Matthias; Jahn, Christine (2015). Handbuch Weltanschauungen, religiöse Gemeinschaften, Freikirchen (in German). Gütersloh. p. 243. Die aggressive Grundhaltung und die Anmaßung, mit oder gar anstelle von Christus den Kampf mit dem Bösen aufnehmen zu können, stehen im Widerspruch zum Geist des Evangeliums.
  38. ↑ Guelich, Robert A. (1991). "Spiritual Warfare: Jesus, Paul and Peretti". Pneuma . 13 (1): 33–64. doi:10.1163/157007491X00033. ISSN   0272-0965.
  39. ↑ McAlister, Elizabeth (2015). "The militarization of prayer in America: white and Native American spiritual warfare". Journal of Religious and Political Practice. 1 (1): 114–130. doi: 10.1080/20566093.2016.1085239 .
  40. ↑ Taylor, Matthew D. (October 1, 2024). "Chapter 3". The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy. Broadleaf Books.
  41. ↑ Gardella, Peter (2018). "26. Spiritual Warfare in the Fiction of Frank Peretti". In McDannell, Colleen (ed.). Religions of the United States in Practice. Vol. 2. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 328, 330–332. doi:10.1515/9780691188133-029. ISBN   9780691188133.
  42. ↑ Riddlebarger, Kim (1993). "This Present Paranoia". Modern Reformation. 2 (3): 278–279.
  43. ↑ Howard, Jay R. (1999). Apostles of Rock: the Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music . Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 66–68. ISBN   9780813148052 . Retrieved 2024-08-11– via Archive.org.

Revised Edition, Exorcism with the Paranormal & The Occult by Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia. Director, Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism.

Bibliography

Further reading

In fiction

  • Tobin's Spirit Guide
  • Spates Catalog of Nameless Horrors
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