North Texas Skeptic - Vol 12 No 05 - 1998

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics," titled "The Skeptic," published in May/June 1998, features a cover headline that is simply "The Skeptic." The main articles focus on a skeptical examination of exorcism and deliverance practices. The issue is presented as Volume 12, Number 5.

A Skeptical View of Exorcism and Deliverance (Part I) by Danny Barnett

Danny Barnett's article delves into the practice of exorcism and deliverance, noting its increasing prevalence beyond the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches into Protestant and Charismatic denominations over the past 30 years. Barnett distinguishes between exorcism, which is more ritualized and formal (citing the "Rituale Romanum"), and deliverance, which is more informal but has developed its own rules. He contrasts the high-profile atmosphere of faith healing crusades with the generally low-profile nature of deliverance ministers, with Bob Larson being presented as an exception.

Barnett recounts his experience attending a public deliverance event led by Bob Larson in Arlington, Texas, on May 15, 1998. He describes the packed auditorium, the audience's attire, and the presence of videocameras from Daystar Television Network. The event began with music from Arlington Baptist Temple, which sponsored Larson's appearance. Larson opened with a parable about spiritual warfare, emphasizing the need for believers to be on God's "terrain." He also advertised a "Demon-Proofing Protection Pack" for $99.

During the event, Larson performed deliverances on several individuals. One notable instance involved a woman identified only by her appearance, whose demon identified itself as "Death." Larson commanded the demon to identify the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to which it responded "Satan." After further questioning, the demon stammered "Jesus." When asked about its legal authority, "Death" claimed "Blood," specifically "Baby's blood," leading to a hushed reaction from the audience, with the implication of a past abortion or infanticide. Larson declared that if the sin was confessed and under the blood of Jesus, the demon had no right to hold it against the woman.

Other individuals ministered to included a white teenage boy named Ryan, whose demon was identified as "Snake," and a red-haired woman named D.J. who appeared to be in a trance. Larson also addressed a man shouting about darkness but declined to perform deliverance, citing the need to maintain order. The article notes the spontaneous chanting of "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" by the audience during a moment of apparent spiritual intensity.

Barnett concludes his account by questioning whether the events were truly supernatural or simply accepted without question by the faithful, posing the question, "One thousand true believers can't be wrong, right? Or can they?"

History of Deliverance in America

This section traces the historical roots of the exorcism/deliverance movement in America. It points to Thomas B. Allen's 1993 book "Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism," which detailed an exorcism in 1949 of a teenage boy named Robert Mannheim, also reported in the Washington Post. William Peter Blatty's 1970 novel "The Exorcist" was based on this account. The article describes the initial incidents of poltergeist activity and scratches on Robbie Mannheim, the failed attempt by a Catholic priest, and the subsequent successful lengthy exorcism by Father William S. Bowdern, S.J., in St. Louis.

Simultaneously, healing revivals were gaining traction, with figures like A.A. Allen, William Branham, Jack Coe, and Oral Roberts known as "faith healers" or "deliverance evangelists." These individuals often attributed sickness to demons and believed that banishing a demon could cure infirmity. A.A. Allen is highlighted as a controversial figure who conducted large crusades and claimed to cast out demons, even displaying supposed demon specimens.

The 1960s saw the influence of Derek Prince, an Englishman who developed a reputation for his teachings on exorcism. His associate, Don Basham, was among the first to use the term "deliverance" for a methodical effort to expel demons. In 1973, Frank D. Hammond and Ida Mae Hammond released "Pigs in the Parlor," which became a bestseller and served as a manual for diagnosing, classifying, and performing deliverance. The book's influence is noted, particularly its chapter on schizophrenia, which it attributed to demoniac spirits.

The article mentions other figures who became prominent in the deliverance movement since the early 1970s, including Bob Larson, Pat Brooks, Win Worley, Eddie Smith, and Stan Martek. It also touches upon the panic over Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) in the 1980s, which saw the rise of personalities like Rebecca Brown, who claimed to have persuaded a cult high priestess to undergo deliverance.

The practice of deliverance in Protestant and Charismatic churches is described as generally quiet, while Roman Catholic exorcisms continue, though at a lower frequency. Comparisons are drawn between modern deliverance and earlier healing revivals. Bob Larson is quoted comparing exorcism to spiritual healing, aligning it with Jesus's ministry. Lowell D. Strieker offers a contrasting skeptical view, calling deliverance the "dark side of healing" and suggesting that physical and mental conditions are wrongly attributed to evil spirits.

The article concludes by stating that exorcism/deliverance has developed core principles for diagnosing and casting out demons, and that Part II will cover these topics along with a skeptical rebuttal and case studies of when deliverance goes wrong.

The third eye by Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder's column begins with an apology for missing the previous month's deadline, attributing it to his wife Laura Ainsworth's participation in a play, "Alice in Bed." He uses this as an opportunity for a "blatant plug," encouraging readers to attend the play.

Reeder then shifts to "goofy news," starting with James Van Praagh, a "happy medium." He notes Van Praagh's media appearances, including a feature in the Dallas Morning News, appearances on "Politically Incorrect," and Cher's claim that he helped her communicate with Sonny Bono. Reeder also recounts an anecdote shared by Michael Shermer of Skeptic magazine regarding a TV affiliate's evaluation of Van Praagh's "spirit sessions." Shermer found numerous misses and noted that Van Praagh seemed to forget his subject's sister's name during a "reading."

The column then presents a series of unusual news items:

• Virgin Mary sightings: News of an image of the Virgin Mary spotted in the frost of a supermarket's burrito freezer in Jersey City, and thousands flocking to Dodge City, Kansas, to see a plaque of the Virgin Mary that allegedly weeps blood. A DNA test confirmed the blood matched the plaque owner's, leading to claims of a miracle.
• Theater controversy: The Manhattan Theater Club canceled plans to produce the play "Corpus Christi" by Terrence McNally, which featured a gay Christlike character, due to bomb threats. The producers later reinstated the show with increased security.
• Stevie Nicks controversy: A music minister barred a high school senior from singing Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" at a baccalaureate service, claiming Stevie Nicks was a Satan-worshipping witch. The student ended up not singing, and Nicks denied the accusation.
• Drought ritual in Thailand: The mayor of Sena, Thailand, attempted to end a drought by using giant phallic symbols in religious rituals, which backfired and were blamed for fires.
• Monk's fast: In southern India, a 65-year-old Jain monk named Sahaj Muni ended a year-long fast by eating a meal of spices and ground peas, attracting a crowd of devotees.
• Magic turtle in Cambodia: Hundreds are flocking to the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia to see a "magic turtle" whose water is believed to cure diseases.
• Psychic war in Milan: The ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci was on trial for allegedly arranging his murder, with prosecutors revealing a "war of psychics" between the couple.
• "Doomsday Clock": The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists met to discuss the "Doomsday Clock," which they believe indicates nuclear annihilation. Reeder criticizes the clock as a "dumb piece of pointless symbolism."
• Asteroid threat: The article mentions the movies "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" and quotes asteroid expert Clark R. Chapman on the lax state of asteroid tracking, suggesting a mile-wide asteroid could hit without warning.
• NASA's asteroid guidelines: New guidelines require astronomers to spend 48 hours rechecking data and NASA another 24 hours before informing the public about potential asteroid threats, a delay that Reeder finds insufficient.
• UV protection study: Trinity University physics professors determined that wet T-shirts offer less UV protection than dry ones.
• Joke study: The National Science Foundation funded a study at the University of Illinois where students told dirty jokes to gauge reactions, a project Reeder finds questionable.
• Left-handedness study: The Lancet reported that earlier studies suggesting left-handedness shortens life were incorrect, attributing the perceived rarity of elderly left-handers to children being forced to become right-handed.
• Pheromones and virtual women: A study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior indicated that human pheromones attract women, and an Italian electronics firm invented a "Virtual Woman" computer game.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, religious phenomena, and pseudoscientific endeavors. The editorial stance is clearly critical and analytical, aiming to debunk or question extraordinary claims and highlight the rational or skeptical perspective. The magazine consistently questions the validity of supernatural events, faith healing, and various forms of superstition, often using humor and irony to make its points. The "Goofy News" section, in particular, serves to highlight the absurdity of many widely reported phenomena.