Demons have plagued people for centuries and 'Cathedral'
is not the first time they have appeared within popular culture. Demons have
inspired many screen and television plays ranging from 'Brimstone & Treacle'
by Dennis Potter to William Friedkin's classic film 'The Exorcist' and the
acclaimed 'Doctor Who' story 'The Daemons'. Demons also regularly appeared
in 15th Century Morality Plays often being banished from the world by God. Despite
Demons continuing to be an ever-present force with popular culture it still
remains unclear how possession occurs and what can be done to stop it
happening. This essay will offer a brief history of possession and the
mysteries that surround it until the present day.
The removal of evil spirits dates back well before the
birth of Christ. Jesus definitely was an exorcist. It is recalled in the
book of Luke how Jesus exorcised a man on the shore of Lake Galilee:
"Jesus said, 'What is your name?' And he said 'Legion';
for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to
depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the
hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them
leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the
herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned."
Possession by demons still takes place today, although
many people believe this has more to do with personal demons than the
workings of the Devil.
Usually people are freed by the influence of evil spirits
by a saying of a simple prayer or holding a simple religious service.
Generally they must be convinced that their home is not alive and evil. This
may take time and in this art of persuasion where the exorcist's talents
lie.
This is demonstrated by 'Cathedral' within it's
classic plot.
Other religious enigmas include
angels and
stigmata.
