Levack has written a broad and deeply researched history of possession since the first demonological writings of the early church fathers. Greco-Roman and Levantine concepts of disembodied entities were transformed by Christians into malevolent demons, all enemies of God and the Christian flock. Focusing on the concept of "perfomativity, Levack explores how demoniacs and exorcists behaved in ways that conformed to their contemporaries expectations. He is mostly interested in using this concept as a key to understanding the limits not only of the demoniacs actions, but also the remedies prescribed by the Church. Historical development of the idea of mental illness and insanity in conjunction with that of possession is examined across time, as well as the changing role of the caregiver. The books ends by comparing the early modern forms of demon possession with that of mostly non-Western (though often Christian-inflected) cases reported in the late 20th century.
Reviews for "The Devil Within"
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