Casting out the Genie

[furtherfield]

BlankOwnership of the Soul & Casting out the Genie - Genius

I have read the "The Devils of Loudon", and Possession of one's soul was a dominant factor in the premodern world. Including abuse by most of the powers that be, whether by the state of religious institutions. Times don't change much. Exorcists and religious functionaries were called upon to drive demons and other spiritual beings out of persons, while oracles and prophets chose to summon such beings to come to them. In the New Testament, Christ is frequently called upon to drive evil demons and "unclean spirits" out of people. It was a widespread belief in the ancient world that these spiritual beings were responsible for the physical and mental illnesses of most people. Creative people were thought to be possessed by a genius (the word comes from the same root as djinn or genie) or tutelary planetary "daemon" which provided them with their wisdom. When people were acting "not like themselves," it was assumed that their soul had been expelled and that their body was now possessed or owned by some other spiritual being. (Garrett 1987:6)

From 
Critical Text - [Marc Garrett's Writings]

How I felt after watching Ken Russell's film 'The Devils'

http://www.furtherfield.org/mgarrett/mgw/index.htm




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