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Mental disorders, such as epilepsy, forgetfulness, schizophrenia, [9] lack of energy, and morbid fears, are often attributed to demonic-possessions and witchcraft. [7] Yet, not all mental-illnesses are attributed to demons, rather demons are believed to cause such symptoms.
St. Guy Heals a Possessed Man (1474). Exorcism (from Ancient Greek ἐξορκισμός (exorkismós) 'binding by oath') is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. [1]
The most notable of spiritual warfare prayers in the Catholic tradition is known as the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel. [ 13 ] Pope John Paul II stated that "'Spiritual combat'... is a secret and interior art, an invisible struggle in which monks engage every day against the temptations".
By 2011, the Anti-Witchcraft Unit had established nine witchcraft-fighting bureaus in cities across the Saudi, and processed "at least 586 cases of magical crime". In 2007, an Egyptian pharmacist, Mustafa Ibrahim, was beheaded in Riyadh after being convicted on charges of "practicing magic and sorcery" as well as other charges. [83]
Witchcraft is the use of alleged supernatural powers of magic.A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic or supernatural powers to inflict harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. [1]
Treatment of a seizure patient with a knife and prayer by a witch doctor, Ryazan Governorate, 1914. Apocryphal prayer (in the Index of Repudiated Books, false prayer) is a prayer modeled on the church prayer, but containing a large number of insertions from folk beliefs, incantations, in some cases rearrangements or excerpts from apocrypha.
The belief in witchcraft in the Middle East has a long history. Belief in witchcraft as malevolent magic is attested from ancient Mesopotamia . In ancient Judaism , there existed a complex relationship with magic and witchcraft, with some forms of divination accepted by some rabbis, yet most viewed as forbidden or heretical.
Blood rituals often involve a symbolic death and rebirth, as literal bodily birth involves bleeding. Blood is typically seen as very powerful, and sometimes as unclean. Blood sacrifice is sometimes considered by the practitioners of prayer, ritual magic, and spell casting to intensify the power of such activities. [citation needed]