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.If you go
› What: “Deliver Us From the Evil One: An Introduction to Spiritual Warfare,” two presentations by Paul Thigpen› Where: Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, 214 E. Eighth St.› When: 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. today; 9:15: Know Your Enemy, Your Battle and Your Comrades; 10:30: Know Your Weapons and Your Armor. Doors open 7:30 a.m. followed by Mass at 8 a.m. and a continental breakfast at 8:45 a.m.› Admission: Free, but donations welcome.
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.