Journal: Global Journal of Classical Theology
Volume: GJCT 16:2 (Sep 2019)
Article: On The Psychology Of Demon Possession: The Occult Personality
Author: Mark Crooks

On The Psychology Of Demon Possession: The Occult Personality

Mark Crooks

Institute of Mind and Behavior

This manuscript was first published in The Journal of Mind and Behavior, Volume 39, Number 4, 2018. I dedicate this paper to my two intellectually empathic souls, Stephen Harrison and John Smythies, who both charitably supported me in my first philosophical and publishing endeavors. Dr. Harrison gave me inspiration to think my own thoughts. Dr. Smythies is, as Descartes, “a man of many hats,” a philosopher, physician, psychologist, and a surpassingly informed and investigative neuroscientist tackling that veritably “most complex structure(s) in the known universe,” the human brain and its supervenient mind/soul. Thanks finally to my fellow MSU alumna Kathleen Vogel. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mark Crooks, P.O. Box 522, Village Station, New York City, New York 10014. Email: [email protected]

Abstract: The notions of possession within psychiatry, psychology, anthropology, parapsychology, and demonology are evaluated as to their relative de/merits. The sheer quantity of evidence as to the phenomenology (descriptive facts) of possession means it transcends any dismissal as anecdotal in kind (e.g., the academically archetypal Biblical possession case involving the swine stampede — a so-called “poltergeist,” here redefined as pan-demon-ium — following the expulsion of the Legion demons). Copious empirical data concerning possession are the same for all contending interpretations, so the prime question is which interpretation has the simplest, most comprehensive explanatory hypothesis. There is a great logical and empirical rigor that may be attached to the traditional conception of demonology. A stereotyped antithesis between science and superstition is suggestive but an alternative, actual dichotomy obtains between good and better hypotheses, which map the same evidential field of facts shared by Biblical demonology and its competing interpretations of possession.

“Satan stealthily creeps on us, and by degrees allures us by clandestine arts, so that when we go astray we know not that we are going astray. Thus gradually we slide, until at length we rush headlong into ruin.”
—John Calvin (1549).

By Way of Introduction

Utilizing the traditional criteria of empirical proof and explanation, demonology can be shown to be more credible, respecting possession, than not only parapsychology but even psychiatry and psychology. This conclusion is surprising to the extent we have imbibed the Enlightenment worldview (Brinton, 1963; Durant and Durant, 1965). There is value in seeing to what extent our Weltanshauung has so influenced our reason, as indexed by our skepticism regarding any but naturalistic reduction...