However, should a person yield to the whisperings of an evil spirit, surrendering their will and complying with those demands, they risk becoming wholly possessed.
Possession is distinct from physical ailments; it is a unique mental state. The disruptions evident in the behavior of those who are demonically afflicted do not stem from organic diseases but from the violent influence of a higher will. Hence, healing such individuals transcends medical intervention and depends solely on a moral influence from spirit to spirit. It is acknowledged that the affliction of possession often coexists with genuine maladies; certain senses may become dormant, leading to profound incapacitation, such as inability to see or speak, or to episodes of convulsions or agitation. Nonetheless, this systemic dysfunction is a reflection of the struggle between the soul and the malevolent spirit inhabiting the body. The inseparable bond between body and soul dictates that disturbances in the spiritual realm will invariably result in physical manifestations.
In contemporary settings, there are instances recognized by the judicial and psychiatric fields of individuals compelled to commit heinous acts, particularly murder. Those experiencing such compulsions do not give in readily; they often endure intense inner conflict. Yet, gradually, they may find their will eroding, leading them to succumb to urges that result in senseless and horrific violence, often executed with chilling detachment. There have been reports of individuals seeking help who express the overpowering and uncontrollable need to harm others, illustrating their desperation.
Professor S. Korsakov, in his 'Course of Psychiatry,' recounts a case wherein a patient reported an unshakeable compulsion to harm children that haunted him for months. Despite his efforts to combat these thoughts, he found himself reluctantly yielding to the horrifying urges, culminating in an act of violence that left him vacillating between relief and despair. Korsakov characterizes these compulsions as deeply disturbing, noting that while individuals may recognize the irrationality of their urges, they remain utterly helpless against them. Health professionals, in evaluating defendants who have acted under such irresistible pressures, often conclude that while the individual was fully aware of their actions, their will was entirely overridden by a compulsion that felt external and alien to their true self.
This leads us to ponder the nature of such overwhelming impulses: what exactly is this destructive force that drives individuals to commit unthinkable acts? Surely, it aligns with the malevolent will we refer to as evil. Those who fall victim to such desires, often harming those they do not even know, beg the question of possession by an evil spirit. Many inquire about the apparent absence of noticeable demoniacs in modern times compared to the era of Jesus. However, this contention reveals a significant misunderstanding. Possession has existed throughout history and persists even today, often manifesting in ways that do not draw attention.
Consider the notorious case of the lender Dimant, who derived pleasure from the suffering of his victims, or even the fictional character Shylock, portrayed with chilling detachment in Shakespeare’s works. Are these not individuals possessed by malevolence? Should the dangerously deranged be relegated to the shadows of mental institutions, their existence unnoticed, it stands to reason that while many labeled as insane may indeed suffer from brain disorders, others solely grapple with a malady of the will. If their wills are dominated by an unseen entity, they rightfully belong to the realm of those afflicted by malevolent spirits.
THEOSIS