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.