Posted on 03/10/2010 10:17:50 AM PST by Wontsubmit
“Hostage to the Devil” is an excellent work on the subject as is another book which includes generous citations from it, “People of the Lie” by Scott Peck.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll look into it.
Bammy be da the Spawn!
LOL
Funny, I just got back from reading the Amazon material. Great minds, eh?
Not enough around about the role of Satan in modern Christian living. Completely ignored topic.
I can’t remember to whom I was talking about an experience this person had in a jungle in I believe it was Indonesia, about smoke coming from this man’s nose and mouth - being possessed, and having watched a demon exorcised by this witch doctor.
There’s a similar anecdote to open the Martin book, only it was in China, I believe.
I remember reading it while staying at a bed and breakfast in Connecticut. I would leave the book outside on the veranda at night instead of on the night stand (it scared the h$ll out of me).;-)
Sum of All Fears by Clancy did that to me staying in a B&B in the UK.
Worth another read. Once you understand how he structures the book, you can skip the literally gory details and see the patterns. The important part of each incident is how it happens, and what happens to the exorcist in each case.
Each case is completely different in what leads to possession. He also picks two cases where priests were possessed. He picks a case involving perfect possession.
In the end, he shows what happens to the poor exorcist. Very uplifting, oddly enough, and does WONDERS for how you look at your relationship with God.
BTW, after thinking about Peck and Martin and evil, it dawned on me that what we are seeing in the White House in the way that Obama wants to force his will on the nation with Obamacare is completely consistent with the behavior of a malignant narcissist (many here have raved about his narcissism from the beginning...including me).
Here's an old Peck quote from People of the Lie about narcissism...
We can see then, that their narcissism makes the evil dangerous not only because it motivates them to scapegoat others, but also because it deprives them of the restraint that results from empathy and respect for others....The evil need victims to sacrifice to their narcissism, their narcissism permits them to ignore the humanity of their victims as well. ..The blindness of the narcissist to others can extend beyond a lack of empathy; narcissists may not "see" others at all.The reason Obama wants to ram down this legislation is because he can't actually SEE the people. Despite his protestations...it is, of course, all about him!
Of course, this is nothing new to those of us at FR, but never ceases to amaze me how Obama's mental illness (narcissism being only one of his disorders) is playing out.
How can this be possible? I’ve been told for 14 years here on FR to move along, nothing here to see. :-)
My very quick take on this is that looking at the CAUSE of something is best done in the aftermath.
As for Obama and his motivations, narcissism is just ONE WAY to become possessed.
I think the thing you have to be careful with is the idea that ‘the Devil made him do it’.
Both Amorth and Martin agree that deciding that someone is possessed is what you ARRIVE at, not what you start with.
If you look at Obama’s past, upbringing, political experience, circle of friends, then it is much easier to arrive at the conclusion that we bought a pig in a poke, and wound up with a true marxist, with no executive experience and no real political skill, than we did a man possessed.
Rasputin may have been possessed. Hitler, Stalin maybe too. Look what happened in Nigeria day before last - machete slaughter of 4 day old babies? Satan involved directly? Probably.
Martin’s book deserves a re-read because he admonishes on ‘seeking it out’. Looking for it. The perfectly possessed can’t be helped, except perhaps by one of the original Apostles or by Christ himself. He admits there are cases you just don’t even try, where the possession is clear cut. Part of the possessed has to want to be helped.
One danger here is losing sight of the fact that we have free will. We get to choose.
I hadn't actually thought about Obama being possessed...just mentally ill.
That said, I read a piece some time ago on the subject of possession that spoke about "partial" possession (invasion by spiritual evil by degrees). The article spoke about selling out to evil on a piecemeal basis and how there was a point of no return that varied depending on the will power and motivation of the person in question to change his/her life to get back into the light.
Regarding Obama, I vacillate between thinking that, on one hand, he is just an idiot neophyte and, on the other extreme, suspecting that he is completely aware of what he is doing and just doesn't care what the country wants or needs (lately I am tending toward the latter).
Also, I allow for the remote possibility (outside chance, of course;-)that he is the AntiChrist in waiting...waiting, that is, for his investment by Satan and the unveiling as the AC at such time as he assumes the Mantle of the Office of Evil on Earth.
Not saying I think this is the case...just saying I am leaving room for such a development. BTW, if he is the AC, I think it is entirely possible he is unaware of it...that would make him the perfect "sleeper."
BTW, the subject of this thread is now the headline at Drudge!
Imperfect possession is covered specifically and nearly exclusively in the Martin book.
I’ve read extensively from apologists on the apocalypse, and the opinion seems to be that the US doesn’t much figure into it. I was amazed at it, but then it made a lot of sense. The US is the most powerful nation on Earth. Why would Israel need us if they have God?
This has, and always will, be ‘God’s style’ - take the person/country/thing that is the LEAST suited to defend itself, and show through God’s power that the lowliest, most unworthy can triumph over the power of evil, or anything for that matter. David over goliath, etc.
Obama leading the US down the path to inconsequence on the end-time world stage? Adds up with the way the apologists are reading the Biblical tea leaves.
Israel will stand alone before the power of Russia, China, Iran, etc., and Israel wins. A version of this already happened - Israel versus 1,000,000 Arab troops in 1967, right?
I think, in the end, the US has to ‘not matter’. Debt out of control, a president that is basically moving us to the margins, China and Russia on the upswing. Maybe?
You just live like Christ is coming back today, I guess.
Given what it took to kill him, that's quite possible.
FWIW, I think the AC comes in after Ezekiel’s war, and maybe the rapture if it happens, and I hope it does.
The AC comes in promising to ‘right the ship’, possibly even using Pax Americanus as the way NOT to do things (using us as a foil).
Good possibility we get blown to bits somehow. Sneak attack coupled with the unwillingness of the President to retaliate.
The Russians, this very day, are practicing ‘nuclear’ war games. You have to ask yourself, and I’m sure the Russians and Chinese are, whether Obama would retaliate to a massive nuclear strike.
I’m not convinced he would.
bttt
“Regarding Obama, I vacillate between thinking that, on one hand, he is just an idiot neophyte and, on the other extreme, suspecting that he is completely aware of what he is doing and just doesn’t care what the country wants or needs (lately I am tending toward the latter).”
More important way to answer the question is ‘What’s the best thing to assume?’
Being elected President is a very difficult thing to accomplish, and he did it. He’s automatically not an idiot. As such, you’re better off assuming he means what he’s doing.
Another thing, ascribing the activities of the administration back to the President is, in itself, an assumption.
To me, the President is acting like a man not in charge of his own agenda, and never has acted that way. I saw that in Clinton too. First thing he does after the election - ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’. You think THAT was his first priority, or do you think it was somebody elses?
The socialists have been trying to move on healthcare since the 30’s. I doubt seriously this is Obama’s idea. I think this was part of the agreement, and it fit in with his worldview. It’s why NONE OF THIS has been his plan. He’s been promoting it, but he left ALL of the details to Congress or somebody else.
WOW.
What about the Easter Bunny,, is he “possessed” because he lays Easter Eggs? Now there is a question that needs to be answered!
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