Fearful 1 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 There were probably other threads on this one already but I missed them. I just saw the movie the other day and am still processing it all...a lot didn't sit well with me and has left me with a lot of questions. I hope its OK to ask them here and get some input from you all. For example...I am disturbed by this concept that she chose to continue with the demons for the glory of God... Wouldn't God have been far more glorified had the exorcism been succesful? And I'm not sure I understand why it was not succesful. And then...if she had been a person of such strong faith...why would she have become possessed in the first place? The movie has left me with a lot of questions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeTeamFamily Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 the whole idea of it is that through her possesion/trial, more people we able to see the actual presence of evil in the world, and thus, the presense of good (God). had she just given up, the case would not have had as big of an impact. God is glorified in those who love Him, and emily showed that by her turning to Him in her time of dire need, to the point of death. [quote]And then...if she had been a person of such strong faith...why would she have become possessed in the first place? [/quote] if Jesus was a person of such strong faith, why would He have to die on a cross in the first place? hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearful 1 Posted January 26, 2006 Author Share Posted January 26, 2006 I do see those points...I guess that one thing that is troubling me is that the movie seems to imply that anyone is then susceptible to demon possession...even people of strong faith...so that is pretty scary. Also I kind of feel uneasy about the fact that the exorcism was unsuccesful...my husband and I spend a lot of time defending the Catholic faith with Protestant friends (because of the music ministry he is in. ) and we face criticism constantly in the circle we are in. The outcome of the movie caused me to worry that Protestants who see the movie might come away with the impression that the Catholic Church or Catholic priests are unequipped to handle a situation like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FabdaEclectic Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Demons CANNOT occupy someone who truly knows the Lord. If Emily Rose was really possessed, then sorry, there is NO WAY she knew the Lord, regardless of her "faith"....all doctrine aside.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Church Punk Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 All it takes is for us to sin to become open and subject to such attacks...That said, you can see how easy it would be for even people of strong faith to fall. Not because of the demonic, but because of our sinfulness. The Lord regenerates us through his sacraments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dUSt Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 [quote name='FabdaEclectic' date='Jan 27 2006, 07:29 AM']Demons CANNOT occupy someone who truly knows the Lord. If Emily Rose was really possessed, then sorry, there is NO WAY she knew the Lord, regardless of her "faith"....all doctrine aside.... [right][snapback]867423[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I think if this were true then we'd all be sinless. I know I have many demons that I struggle with... lust, laziness, doubt, etc. Maybe the devil works even harder on the people who have [b]more[/b] faith? It's a scary thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YMNolan Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 [quote name='dUSt' date='Jan 27 2006, 11:09 AM']I think if this were true then we'd all be sinless. I know I have many demons that I struggle with... lust, laziness, doubt, etc. Maybe the devil works even harder on the people who have [b]more[/b] faith? It's a scary thought. [right][snapback]867541[/snapback][/right] [/quote] dang! that is a scary thougt. I mean wasn't Padre Pio attacked by demons? if they can do that to him... ugh, I don't even want to think about it! >says prayer< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearful 1 Posted January 27, 2006 Author Share Posted January 27, 2006 Those were some very helpful points Church Punk and dUST... I guess I was just expecting to see the power of the devil defeated in the movie...by the priest(through God of course)...I was looking forward to the movie being a great witness and testimony to the power of Christ in the Catholic Church to nonCatholics.. and I was sort of disappointed with the outcome of the story...and left to feel pretty scared too. It honestly never occured to me that the Roman Catholic ritual of exorcism may not be succesful in some cases....I guess I just never gave it much thought before. And I guess I always sort of had the same idea as FabdaElectric....that strong Catholic/Christian people would not be susceptible to such things...but maybe that is not really true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 [quote name='dUSt' date='Jan 27 2006, 11:09 AM']I think if this were true then we'd all be sinless. I know I have many demons that I struggle with... lust, laziness, doubt, etc. Maybe the devil works even harder on the people who have [b]more[/b] faith? It's a scary thought. [right][snapback]867541[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I disagree from what I know about demonology/angelology. Struggling with sin and falling into sin is different than being possessed by a demon. Being a baptized Catholic in the state of grace Satan cannot take your soul, especially without your permission. The idea of demonic possession by anyone who has the mark and seal of the Holy Spirit is something I doubt, but I leave that up to theologians more intelligent than anyone on this website and the Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rick777 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 (edited) [quote name='Brother Adam' date='Jan 27 2006, 01:21 PM'] Being a baptized Catholic in the state of grace Satan cannot take your soul, especially without your permission. [right][snapback]867840[/snapback][/right] [/quote] No, Satan cannot ever take over your soul if you dont want him to while in the state of grace but he can take over your bodily functions. Edited January 27, 2006 by Rick777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Church Punk Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 There were some inconsistancies in the movie however. Typically if the Church is to perform an exorcism, a priest who is well studied in the ritual of exorcism performs it, not a dioscean priest. This is directly appointed by the bishop. Pope John Paul II has been noted to have performed no less than 3 public exorcisms right in St. Peter's square. In one case the demonic was brought to the pope in their state of possesion. The pope simply prayed over the person, commanding the demon to leave, when finished they were healed and in sound mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rick777 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 I never knew that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 (edited) [quote name='Fearful 1' date='Jan 25 2006, 11:55 PM']And then...if she had been a person of such strong faith...why would she have become possessed in the first place? [right][snapback]866184[/snapback][/right] [/quote] [quote name='FabdaEclectic' date='Jan 27 2006, 08:29 AM']Demons CANNOT occupy someone who truly knows the Lord. If Emily Rose was really possessed, then sorry, there is NO WAY she knew the Lord, regardless of her "faith"....all doctrine aside.... [right][snapback]867423[/snapback][/right] [/quote] [color=330000]Anyone can be possessed. But usually only when people are deeply obsessed with black magic like tarot cards or weijie (sp?) boards etc because you in a way open yourself to the devil. But it is still possible for anyone to be possessed. But when it comes to tempting, the devil tries to tempt and harm those who are stronger in their faith vs those who are not. [/color] Edited January 27, 2006 by CrossCuT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 i left the theater feeling much less scared because of the fact that i am a Catholic. The scene that did that for me was when the Priest said the prayer of St. Michael and the demons left. That image reaffirmed a feeling in me that i was "prepared" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rick777 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 I never saw this movie...should I? It sounds interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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