Spiritual warfare: Speaker to discuss evil and demons as political forces

The Catholic Church has a protocol for exorcists that involves investigating whether a medical or psychological problem could be involved rather than demons. But sometimes an emergency can require collapsing or skipping perhaps one or two steps, Paul Thigpen explains.

"A man walked into the office of an exorcist friend of mine and flew out of his chair to the ceiling, where he crawled around upside down then somersaulted back into the chair," says Thigpen, an alumni of both Yale and Emory universities. "My friend realized this man needed immediate attention."

Thigpen, who has written 45 books, including nonfiction on religion and history, children's books, poetry and novels, insists he's seen things that would have most people sleeping with all their electric lights blazing. Yet he describes it all in a voice as calm and gentle as the one he might use helping his three grandchildren with homework. He says he has been part of prayer circles that supported a Pentecostal exorcist working in Europe as well as American priests officially appointed by U.S. bishops to cast out demons.

Yale and Emory Alum Paul Thigpen describes exorcisms he has witnessed this morning at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. The author of religious nonfiction as well as a novel about a journey through hell, Thigpen has penned a new book called "A Manual for Spiritual Warfare." It discusses evil as a geopolitical force and examines the theory that demonic entities play a role in addiction and some forms of abuse.

His latest book on the topic is called "A Manual for Spiritual Warfare," and he will discuss in Chattanooga this morning in the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. The book details his view of evil as a geopolitical force and also relates his thoughts about the role demonic energy may play in addiction, depression that deepens beyond medicine's ability to heal or comfort and random violence.

"Dr. Thigpen is very straightforward about the reality of spiritual assault and these days, that is rare in a wider culture that seems to dismiss the idea of evil as both personal and a force in the world," says Barbara Golder, director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at the Basilica. "He brings a strong understanding of the topic from both a historical and a personal perspective. What I like most is that he takes the topic very, very seriously and helps us to do so as well."

While some may scoff at the idea of demons that need exorcising, the Catholic Church does not, she says.

"Those things might seem 'on the fringe' to the rest of the world but, as Pope Francis reminds us frequently: The devil is real and we must not underestimate him," Golder says. "The fact of the matter is that there really are spiritual beings - we call them demons - who are evil and actively trying to make us turn away from God and his love for us.

"There is a reality to demonic possession and a good many priests and Protestant pastors have seen it in the course of their ministries," she continues. "The church is quite cautious in its use of exorcism, making sure that medical and psychological illness are ruled out. We don't see demonic possession behind every tree and bush. But it exists and the Church has a remedy for it: exorcism."

But even without exorcisms, the subject of spiritual warfare is one that all religious denominations can understand, she says.

"I am hoping that we will have some attendees from other, surrounding worship communities as well," Golder says. "This is a topic that brings us together. After all, we are fighting side by side whether we realize it or not."

Thigpen, a devout Catholic who was once ordained a Protestant minister, graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale with a major in religious studies then earned an master's in 1993 and a Ph.D. in 1995 from Emory University in historical theology. He now lives in Dahlonega, Ga.

"From age 12 to 18, I was an atheist, so I can understand folks who have some skepticism," Thigpen says. "But I had encounters after that with a force that could only have a supernatural explanation. And I began to change my mind."

After becoming a Christian, he was part of a prayer circle that helped a priest cleanse what he calls a "demonically infested dorm room" on a college campus.

"I slept there overnight and the bed levitated," Thigpen says in his cheerful, quiet way. "The students had complained that wind would rush through even when the windows and doors were closed, and there would be sudden drops in temperature."

Thigpen and other believers prayed along with the priest as he anointed the room with holy water and placed St. Benedict medals on the walls.

"It takes training and education to be an exorcist and in the Catholic Church, it requires an appointment," he says.

"I don't believe that demons can simply possess an innocent person because God is stronger than Satan. But I do believe some people open a door to dark forces by using Ouija boards or indulging in seances.

"This will make a lot of people mad, but I believe abortion is the taking of a human life, so that can open a door in some cases."

Spiritual warfare in religious terms means fighting evil through prayer, exorcism and moral strength. The term took on a political connotation in the 1980s when conservative fundamentalists called for prayer teams to combat secularism in schools and moral gaps perceived in the federal government. National Catholic Reporter's investigative journalist Russ Bellant documented instances in which the Central Intelligence Agency recruited members of Nicaraguan spiritual warfare churches as allies.

Thigpen avoids mixing politics and religion, but he is bold enough to say political rhetoric that "calls people to bigotry or hatred is evil."

For those who fervently desire to avoid all contact with demons and are even too terrified to watch films such as "The Exorcist" or "The Conjuring," Thigpen has some basic and comforting advice.

"Cultivate a virtue that protects you from sin," he advises. "Generosity, compassion, courage, tenderness toward those who need it most are virtues that act like armor against dark forces. It's hard for evil to find a foothold in a soul or heart where one of those virtues is valued and strong."

Golder acknowledges that, while individual Christians have their own approaches to dealing with spiritual warfare, "every Christian needs to take it seriously, regardless of what others think."

"It's part of being Christian. St. Paul tells us that our fight is against the powers of darkness in the spiritual realm, not against mere flesh and blood, and he admonishes us to take up the battle prepared and armored for it. That's what Dr. Thigpen is talking about."

When asked what the intellectually rigorous founders of Yale and Emory would make of his adventures, Thigpen laughs cheerfully.

"Both universities have changed so much over the years that I doubt the Puritans who founded Yale or the Methodists who founded Emory would recognize the approach the schools have to the world now," he replies.

Contact Lynda Edwards at ledwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391.