All reality TV producers have to prepare for worst-case scenarios when they air a live event. Jodi Tovay’s worries are a bit more unusual, because she is sending paranormal investigators into a house they believe is infested with demonic spirits.
“The worst-case scenario is that one of these entities will attach to someone,” Tovay said. “It is dangerous.”
Luckily, Tovay says, the physical symptoms are usually obvious when an evil spirit attaches itself to a person: nausea, scratches, superhuman strength. A team of paramedics will be on standby, as will police. She’s ready.
Welcome to “Exorcism: Live!” airing at 9 p.m. Friday on Destination America, a cable channel owned by Discovery Communications. The two-hour telecast tasks a clergyman, a psychic and the team from the network’s “Ghost Asylum” series to go into the spooky suburban St. Louis home that inspired “The Exorcist” book and movie. Ghost hunters insist that the house is filled with a dark, sinister energy, and “Exorcism: Live!” is determined to cleanse it.
“People have called it the biggest supernatural mystery in American history — so many tales that have come out of that house and still exist around it,” Tovay said. “So we almost had to do something.”
“The Exorcist,” William Blatty’s 1971 horror novel, was based on the real-life case of a Maryland teenager known as Roland Doe. In 1949, Doe became violently ill, screaming in languages he was never taught, and doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Eventually, religious leaders decided that Doe was possessed by the Devil. Through exorcism rituals, a Catholic priest freed Doe of his demons. At the time, The Washington Post called it “perhaps one of the most remarkable experiences of its kind in recent religious history.”
Time to get skeered, folks! How truly frightening to think that an exorcism is being performed today on live TV. Nothing has scared me like William Peter Blatty’s, The Exorcist. I will be recording this show, not watching live.
For those of us who believe that evil truly exists, this show could be a deal breaker. I will confess now that I refuse to allow an oujia board in my house. I don’t want a portal in my home. Does that sound like I am superstitious? Perhaps but why borrow trouble. I have close relatives who had a bad experience with one.
Exorcisms still take place in some religions, including the Catholic Church. Not much is generally said about the practice and the use of exorcism is treated very seriously.
We don’t all agree on what evil really is, however. For instance, Steve and I would both agree that evil exists. we might not agree on what that evil really is. I would also wager that he could articulate his position far better than I could. I can’t articulate it at all. Why? Proof of evil came to me in a dream many years ago. I felt it. I felt it to the point that I woke up drenched in sweat and couldn’t go back to sleep for the rest of the night. Was it just a dream? Who knows. I believe it was more but I also know it was far from scientific proof. It was good enough for me.
Do you believe evil exist? Is it real or is it just something man has invented? What is its source? Can evil exist in a non-religious context? Can evil be expelled or exorcised? Please share your thoughts.
One final question–if an evil spirit does attach to someone tonight, what guarantees do we have that it will detach?
Moon,
I was going to refrain from commenting, until I saw my name mentioned. We do agree that evil exists. Every rational person I know acknowledges the concept of evil, but we may disagree on the application of the term, and the source.
I am a practicing evangelical Christian. I believe that there is “demonic evil”. I also believe that there is “worldly evil”. Ted Bundy represented “worldly evil”. John Allen Mohammad represented “worldly evil”. Demonic evil is much more subtle, which is why people have a hard time acknowledging and or recognizing it.
Like you with your dream, I have had similar experiences, that are difficult to fully articulate. One such example was a home I rented as a young, married Marine. We had just returned from an overseas tour, and found this single-family home and signed a lease, through a rental company that worked with serviceman, prior to leaving Japan.
It was a nice little house, just 10 years old. Big yard, convenient to the base and shopping. I got a “bad vibe” soon after moving in. Then the fighting started between me and my spouse, which was different, and we attributed it to “the move”. My infant son became difficult, wouldn’t sleep. We’d leave on weekends to visit my wife’s family in Charleston, and we’d be fine. Soon after returning home, we’d be right back at each other. She left for a time, and stayed with her family. We were both “nominal Catholics” went to Mass most weeks, but didn’t really practice our faith outside of Mass.
I was talking to a neighbor one day, and she related a story of the previous family who lived there. Single Mom, two teenage kids. The daughter was mixed up in the Occult, and was part of a “Satanic” group. I didn’t place much stock in that. Then one day, I had a feeling. I started looking around the house, and I started finding symbols scratched into walls (had been painted but still visible if the light was right) inside of doors in both my son’s and our bedroom, and other places. Things made sense then. We bought a house in the same neighborhood, and broke our lease. Once we moved, the fighting stopped. My son slept soundly and was an “easy child”. Some might be skeptical, but it was then that I realized that “High Evil” was real. Now, I didn’t rush off the the Church or become a “born again” Christian, and my life was not trouble-free after that. But I could walk in my door, without that feeling of dread.
I am with you on the wise practice of “not borrowing trouble”. May be paranoia or superstition to some, but if it doesn’t impact someone else’s life, what is wrong with not allowing certain things into the home.
As to this televised exorcism, I wouldn’t watch it. Not because I am afraid of the material, or skeptical of exorcism. On the contrary, I do believe that exorcism is a real power of His followers. What I am skeptical of is the media, and their desire to manipulate the public by ridiculing and marginalizing the Church. As I sated previously: “Demonic Evil” is very subtle.
We aren’t even that far apart, other than I am now an un-churched mainstream Christian who operates more on spirituality rather than biblical teachings. All roads lead to Rome, I guess.
I think houses absolutely can harbor evil. In fact, my dream didn’t happen once. There were sequels and all the dreams dealt with evil in homes. I have had similar dreams about 20 times in my life but nothing like that first one.
I am somewhat ill at ease about even watching this thing…as you said, evil is subtle. Who is to say what a portal is and isn’t. We shall see. Let’s put it this way….I might be more comfortable watching it at someone else’s house.
Regrettably, Discovery (and many of their network’s channels), History, TLC and others, which used to be great channels have devolved into primarily outlets for reality TV and pseudo-science. History and History International (now History 2) were my favorite TV channels but all we get now is crap about aliens, Bigfoot, people digging through rubbish, alligator hunters, etc.
Travel Channel still has some interesting shows and I enjoy watching Andrew Zimmern eat weird things with my kids. Those shows are also good for the kids to learn about different cultures and places. Science Channel has some good programming as well, but I haven’t seen “Through the Wormhole” in a while. It’s their best show. My kids love Morgan Freeman and that’s a good way to get them to watch a real science show.
The channels say that they program what people want to watch and will get the best ratings. They are probably correct. That says a lot about the direction this nation is headed.
I refuse to watch shows about exorcisms, Bigfoot, aliens or Bernie Sanders offering limitless government freebies without acknowledging that implementing his ideas would turn the United States into Greece.
I am going to watch this one although I don’t disagree about crap being on the other channels all too often.
I also might turn it off.
I do believe things exist beyond the realm of what most of us perceive. For instance, my husband can sometimes tell when people are going to die. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I sure can’t. (thank goodness) I am an empath, however. Most people aren’t. Plus these extra sensory things don’t hit everyone the same. Supposedly people who have difficulty wearing watches that keep time are more susceptible to seeing for feeling spirits.
I try to keep an open mind while clearly dismissing Big Foot as a myth.
I accept that some people have brains that connect to a “spiritual” dimension. Mine doesn’t work that way (at least now.) I consider spiritual language as simply colorful metaphors for mundane things like entropy, randomness in life, illness from viral infections, illness from environmental pollutions/drugs, interpersonal conflicts and mental illness.
I’m a skeptic on most things. I’ve seen just too many ridiculous claims that people made that, of course, turned out to be untrue. I enjoy a lot of this stuff when it is presented as fiction, however. In fact, I can’t wait for the reboot of the “X-Files” to premier next January. The previews include what appear to be Observers from the old “Fringe” series. I’d be waiting in line to buy tickets to see an “X-Files”/”Fringe” crossover movie. Mulder, Walter Bishop, Scully and Olivia working together would be great! The main distinction between me and some of the fans is that I regard these shows as entertainment rather than documentaries.
I will be right in line behind you for the entertainment. That is not to say that entertainment shouldn’t make us think…what if..
http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html
The above link is a rather lengthy but very well researched article about the supposed possession of the Mt Ranier kid that was first published in the 1949 WaPost that Moon linked, and that William Blatty used for his novel. The writer actually located and interviewed the allegedly possessed kid back in 1998. In short, what you had was a disturbed kid who took advantage of a lot of gullible adults, including the kid’s mother, and some priests. The dad, however, knew the kid was full of sh** but was too drunk to say anything. Highly recommended reading.
Y
MAXIMUS was right. The show was totally lame. It wasn’t even scary. The players sounded ignorant. It was more like Greatest Catch and all the reality shows except more boring. You can’t really see evil.
However, I do think the concept of evil is worthy of discussion. As far as the show goes, I want my 2 hours back. Blue Bloods was far better.
@Starryflights
That was a great article, thanks for the link. It’s amazing to me that the fallacy has gone on for so long. I think it’s like anything else, people believe what they want to believe.