Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD with the help of ChatGPT

Abstract

Exorcism – the ritual expulsion of alleged evil spirits – has been practiced across cultures and religions for millennia. This paper provides a historical overview of exorcism over the last five centuries, examining how its prevalence and interpretation have evolved from the early modern period to contemporary times. We discuss the demographics of exorcism, including its geographic and cultural spread and the types of individuals typically involved, as well as notable surges or declines in different eras. In parallel, the development of psychology and psychiatry radically transformed understandings of phenomena once attributed to demonic possession. Many conditions historically “treated” by exorcists – such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, or dissociative disorders – are now understood in medical terms thequran.love thequran.love. We relate the persistence of exorcism practices to these scientific advancements, highlighting a critical perspective: modern evidence-based science finds no empirical support for literal demonic entities thequran.love. Case studies and religious responses are analyzed to illustrate the tension and interplay between traditional exorcistic interpretations and psychiatric explanations. In sum, while exorcism remains a fascinating and at times resurgent ritual (even in the 21st century), a scientific lens recasts historical “demonic” encounters as manifestations of psychological or neurological conditions. This study underscores the importance of reading age-old accounts of possession in light of modern science, and it cautions against conflating mental illness with mythic evil thequran.love bigthink.com. A concluding epilogue reflects on why exorcism endures despite scientific progress, suggesting that cultural narratives of demons fulfill human psychological needs that science alone may not satisfy.

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