Dealing with Possession in Contemporary Germany
September 3, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/9780197679951.003.0019 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Possession linguistics Trance Battle Soul Epistemology Psychotherapist Psychoanalysis Anthropology Ancient history |
| Key points | Argues that possession is interpreted differently across parapsychology, fundamentalist Christianity, neo-shamanism, medical-psychological diagnosis, and religion-sensitive psychotherapy, each with distinct methods for dealing with it in modern Germany. |
Abstract
Abstract Experiences of possession are interpreted differently according to cultural and psychological contexts. Parapsychology attempts to understand the phenomena associated with possession at the level of generalized quantum theory. In fundamentalist Christian circles the human soul is understood within a dualistic framework in which demonic and divine powers are engaged in a constant battle for control. Neo-shamanistic movements seek to employ the spiritual powers of ancestors in healing. Medical-psychological diagnosis describes states of trance and possession as dissociative disorders, but religion-sensitive psychotherapy takes into account both the harmful and the helpful aspects of religious practice. This chapter contrasts these models and their methods for dealing with possession in modern Germany.