There was a documentary tonight on the history channel about exorcism, and one of the features in it was a man who called himself an expert on exorcism, performing thousands in a decade or so. It would briefly pan to video of him carrying out an exorcism infront of a crowd of people; seemingly exorcising the demon within a few minutes. But from what I gather, it's been reported to take hours to perform an exorcism, or even days. Is it possible to exorcise a demon within minutes?

Also, another thing that made me curious. If he was a true exorcist, would he preform such things infront of a crowd as what appeared to be entertainment. After the person had been "exorcised" the crowd would applaud.

Does it sound like shock value entertainment to you, or is he truly performing a legitiment exorcism? Could these people be influenced by him, or are truly possessed?

Bob Larson Ministries

In my opinion, excorcism is an act. People of his persuasion of excorcist actually buy their possessed people I would guess... and the hobbyist excorcists just deal with people who create their own possession... 'the lord saving them', is simply a psychological switch they flip in their mind saying "it's ok to be normal again". Until someone can get me a real video of something impossible from a "possessed" person.. Such as speaking in languages they couldn't have known, or flying or what have you.... I have a difficult time believing it.

Haven't you ever wondered why excorcists go out of their way to make sure the actual excorcism is not recorded, the time when all these amazing things are supposedly happening?

I think Bob Larson believes, or at least once believed, that what he was doing is genuine. Back when I studied these things though, about a decade ago, I was never able to find a single account of an exorcism that did not match the exact same symptoms of extreme obsessions.

I watched this special, on the History channel. "Exorcism", is it's title, for those that want to look for future re-broadcasts. I wonder if believers in attendance of Mr.Larson's show, ever wonder how the old devil can occupy so many bodies that belong to christ, if once baptized christ has dominion over the body!?

But what a draw! What an info-mercial, communicating the devil is still at issue in the world. What I wouldn't give for his bank account, rendered by perpetuating a fraud, and my scruples, that would call it so, while respecting people more than to exploit their greatest fears, they're worthy of the devil getting in.

I found it disturbing that he used the bible as a poking tool lol.

Probably his Freudian slip!

To put it simply, Bob Larson is a fake. He only does this to take advantage of people that more then likely feel guilty about sinning, and assume that confession just is not enough. Goes back to the middle ages when the church asked for money to forgive sins. However it makes the people feel better I about there life, but they are not possessed, not in the slightest. They need to see a psychiatrist, not a self proclaimed exorcist.

I saw a different special on him in which they were trying to figure out exactly where all of his money gets pooled into. A lot of it could not be accounted for, considering he says he gives the mass majority of it to his church and the needy. Instead, he has 2 mansions, a beautiful cottage, and a number of sports cars. When asked about this, his answer simply was " well....come on, I gotta live ". When they brought out tax papers saying exactly how much he makes, and questioning where it went, he called the interview off.

He's not much different then the famous Ed Warren. A Demonologist that took advantage of people to exploit stories, in which to make money.

I do not know if all cases fall into the bogus category. But I think that groups that are real lop sided with this business, see more of it because of the power of suggestion. A friend of mine who was attacked and robbed years ago suffered mild brain damage and would have petty mall seizures occaisonally. We checked out a charismatic church and low and behold during the service my buddy had a seizure and all hell broke loose literally. The preacher began shouting out the devil and all the nitwits were raising holy hands and such, while was laughing my rear end off. Then they targeted me as thought my laughing was demonic too which made me laugh more, I dragged my buddy out of there, but it just goes to show you that not every problem is because of evil spirits. It is funny, I counseled a woman once who thought her nightmares were caused by evil spirits. When we got to the bottom of it all, she was just a huge fan of horror books she read all the time. When she gave up the Stephen King and Dean Koontz stuff she was just fine. No devil there.

How rude!

Yes, never understimate the power of suggestion. Until impossible events happen during a "possession" it will likely always be either attention seeking, subconscious desires, or, as you said, suggestion.