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Did this film single-handedly make people aware of the concept of exorcisms?

posted 9 months ago by spurtle467 (1501)
6 replies | jump to latest

Watching this film not too long ago and it came to the scene whereby a doctor suggests to the mother about having Regan looked at by a priest and if she is aware of the practice of exorcisms. It got me thinking, did most people even know what they were back then?

Obviously this was a hugely successful and famous movie and when one now thinks about the idea of someone being possessed by a demon and getting exorcised, The Exorcist movie is something that might pop into their head. But back then before the film came out, if you were ask people what they were, would most have answered that they didn't know? Or was it a familiar concept even back then before its release, like it is now?

[–] SeanF89 (97) 9 months ago

I am sure Catholics knew of exorcisms and exorcists.

[–] EdwardHaskell (122) 9 months ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism#

Looks like many religions have had some concept of possession/exorcism.

I first heard of the Catholic rite, or for that matter any type of exorcism, many years ago in a collection of stories reprinted from Fate magazine. In fact, that case of, "possession," was reported in Time magazine in 1936. At least according to Wikipedia.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Ecklund

[–] strntz (10872) 9 months ago

I'm not Catholic, but my family was Baptist and we knew about Catholic exorcisms since I was a kid (I was born in 1957). I don't know if Baptists do this as I'm not a practicing one but I feel everyone knew what they were whether they believed in them (or demonic possessions) or not, although the film certainly raised some more awareness and probably some detail about what was involved (I'm assuming the procedure was at least decently researched).

But here's a true story for you - take it for what it's worth.. My wife and I know a couple very well that are practicing Catholics (for full disclosure) and they told us the story of a Catholic priest they knew personally who performed exorcisms as his job within the church and did so for many years.

Our friends wouldn't get very specific about him except to say that he had suffered a truly horrifying death. We asked what happened and they only nodded "no" and said no more. Going by the look of fear in their eyes, we didn't push any further. My wife and I to this day wonder what the whole story was.

[–] Foster (876) 7 months ago

I think most religions have the concept of exorcism in their beliefs BUT it's not something you hear about

I was born and raised a Lutheran, (Scratch a Lutheran find a Catholic they used to say)but did the whole Sunday School and Catechism thing and never heard anyone speak of it

Now they might have mentioned it and I glossed over it

[–] MonStar (11660) 7 months ago

Yes.

[–] PaladinNJ (20316) 5 months ago

Being raised Catholic I knew of them before this movie.

Wasn’t until many years later I learned the Vatican actually has a primary exorcist. Although his main job is to prove possessions are false.