Demons exorcised live on TV
'Scientific' experiment criticized as stunt for ratings
Posted: February 26, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A man who claims he was possessed by demons was "delivered" in a
televised exorcism broadcast live on British television, yesterday.
The subject, a man in his 40s identified only as Colin, was monitored
by neuro-imaging technology that showed the audience what was
occurring in his brain while Rev. Trevor Newport, a Pentecostal
minister, prayed for him.
The UK's Channel 4, which carried the program, has earned a reputation
for provocative broadcasting of medical procedures, having shown an
abortion in 2004 and an autopsy two years prior.
The procedure was observed by 20 religious and scientific observers
that included clerics from the Church of England and local mosques,
psychologists, neuroscientists and psychiatrists.
Dr. Jonathan Bird, a neuro-psychiatrist from the Frenchay Hospital in
Bristol, said he observed "very little activity in the parietal region
of the brain" on the attached electroencephalograph. "We also saw some
asymmetry in the temporal lobe," Bird added. "Whether that is a brain
process or a spiritual process, I leave to the experts."
Following the exorcism, Colin told Channel 4, "I feel that I have had
demons in my life and that they have been delivered. I believe there
is a merciful God and this country needs to know that Jesus cast out
spirits and still does."
"I was a bit nervous beforehand but after I was prayed for the
nervousness just went" Colin said. "It was the most relaxed
deliverance I have ever had."
Rev. Newport, of Life Changing Ministries, has conducted numerous
exorcisms in his 25 years as an ordained minister. "Colin was very
agitated beforehand and now he is completely relaxed" he told the
audience. "A lot of people were perhaps expecting a more graphic
demonstration – this is quite a normal deliverance."
Normal or not, the two-minute televised ritual and "scientific
experiment" has drawn criticism.
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told the London Evening Standard, "An
exorcism is not an appropriate thing to be shown on television.
Anything that you put on television even if it is in the name of
science is seen as a form of entertainment."
"It's interfering in something very personal." added John Beyer,
director of Media Watch UK. He accused Channel 4 of sensationalism.
"Is this a legitimate investigation or just some stunt to create
controversy and ratings? People who need 'exorcisms' are nearly always
mentally ill. The channel is likely to get loads of calls from people
saying they are possessed too because they haven't had proper help for
their problems-from doctors."
Simon Andreae, Channel 4's head of science programming, responded to
the criticism leveled against the broadcast: "We are delighted to have
been part of one of the first scientific investigations into the
neurology of possession. I hope that the program will form part of a
wider debate about the relationship between science and religion."
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