Deliverance ministry
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In charismatic Christianity, deliverance ministries are activities carried out by individuals or groups aimed at solving problems related to demons and spirits, especially possession. Leaders of and adherents to these ministries emphasize the activities of evil spirits in many physical, psychological, or emotional maladies that people experience. The practices and many of the underlying beliefs of these ministries are not accepted by all Christians.
[edit] Methods
Deliverance ministries focus on exorcising the spirit or spirits believed to cause an affliction. The method of exorcism varies, but due to a strong majority of Protestant christians, many to most adherents directly recite Biblical examples in the form of a short prayer intended demand a demon to depart an afflicted person, and do not believe an ordained clergy is required perform the exorcism. A ministry leader may prescribe a more elaborate ceremony for some or all cases, and may draw upon the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism as well.
Ministries also organize the cleansing of homes by removal of items that are believed to be inviting to demons, including fantasy or horror novels, and artworks depicting pagan gods or frogs.
[edit] Popularity
The rise of deliverance ministries in the United States appears to have occurred almost immediately following the release of the film The Exorcist in 1973, and the film has been credited with creating interest in casting out demons, even though the practices of deliverance ministries differ widely from the highly ritualized exorcisms carried out by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The same year, a Baptist minister named Frank D. Hammond and his wife Ida Mae Hammond published a book entitled Pigs in the Parlor which was a 'hit' book on the subject.
In the United States, the best-known current practitioner is Bob Larson.
