Image Credit: Froggerlaura

The Berry College Campus in Northwest Georgia is normally a place of growth and development, and this time of year when the jack-o’-lanterns come out and the local fraternities host bake sales for Halloween charities, is no exception.  But elsewhere on the college’s campus, fear was developing, as the tortured sounds of an exorcism cracked through the hallways.  Now the campus is dealing with the aftermath of this terrifying ordeal.

The student’s account began with a group prayer session in the RA’s dorm room in which several current and former students of Berry College were in attendance.  One participant, a former student, reportedly began crying uncontrollably as prayers began.  As they continued, this weeping became fevered screaming.  The RA, a Junior by the name of Nathan Mallory, was buffeted by memories of similar wailing taking place during exorcisms he witnessed while visiting India.  “That’s when it showed itself,” Mallory said, “Her [the student’s] face changed right in front of me, and the most evil, hideous grin came on her face, and her eyes seemed to turn red.”  He went on to say that the group prayed and went through a ritual exorcism, but that the student was not restrained or touched at any time throughout.  “It didn’t take long for that demon’s smirk to turn into complete agony and pain.  But no one was touching her, except for God’s angels.”

The campus’ Dean, Debbie Heida, emphatically stated her disdain for the campus being used as the site for such an unusual event, “There are obviously a lot of religious events that go on at Berry each week.  But a college campus is not the place for an exorcism.”  Understandably vexed by the potential legal fallout, the Dean has informed Mallory that he is not to perform any further exorcisms while on campus.

Elsewhere in Georgia, a woman in Gwinnett county was arrested after attempting an exorcism on her son.  The woman was held on charges of cruelty to her child as well as wrongful imprisonment for handcuffing her son and refusing to feed him for three days.  The child was reportedly flailing and snarling as police arrived on the scene claiming to be a man named Alfredo, though no one could determine what any of the 15 year old’s ramblings meant.  It was determined that the child was likely schizophrenic, but the mother was acquitted on all charges by a Georgia court.

Whether demonic possession actually involves spectral entities that latch on to hosts with the intent of consuming their souls or it is simply a form of drastic schizophrenia, it is no doubt an intense experience for the sufferer that can in rare cases result even in death from exhaustion or self injury.  Needless to say, possession and exorcism as a form of treatment should be considered with a hefty helping of caution.  Even tales of successful exorcisms are often followed by a cataloged list of damages and injuries.  Of course the alternative doesn’t sound too promising either.  No fight with our inner demons, whether they be real or perceived is a simple one, and though it is an important battle, should be one we equip ourselves for through introspection, lest we see ourselves slipping into darker places.