Dealing with Possession in Contemporary Germany
September 3, 2024 Michael Utsch
Possession experiences are interpreted through diverse cultural and psychological lenses. Parapsychology approaches them via generalized quantum theory, while fundamentalist Christianity frames them within a dualistic battle between demonic and divine forces for the human soul. Neo-shamanic movements seek ancestral spiritual powers for healing. Medical-psychological diagnosis categorizes trance and possession as dissociative disorders, whereas religion-sensitive psychotherapy considers both harmful and helpful aspects of religious practice. This chapter contrasts these models and their methods for addressing possession in modern Germany.