The world of fundamentalist Christianity can be a breeding ground for fear, particularly when it comes to the supernatural. Many who grew up in this environment find themselves grappling with the lingering effects of teachings about demons, possession, and the constant threat of evil influences. Episode 5 of I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast dives headfirst into this unsettling territory, blending personal anecdotes with sharp insights.
One of the hosts, T, recounts how his fascination with the demonic began with the film The Exorcist. “Seriously man, traumatised me,” he admits. “For about three months, I was about ten and I did not sleep in my own room”. This early exposure highlights how cultural products can prime individuals to accept and internalise ideas about demonic forces, especially within a religious context that already emphasises spiritual warfare.
B, the other host, shares his experiences within the church, where there was a lot of talk about demons and inferring that a lot of the issues we might be facing were controlled by demons, and that they would then become part of us”. This reflects a common theme: the tendency to attribute personal struggles and societal problems to demonic influence, rather than addressing underlying issues.
The podcast explores the spectrum of beliefs surrounding demonic influence, ranging from subtle “attachments” to full-blown Exorcist-style possessions. T recalls attending weekly exorcism sessions led by a pastor at “Great Big AOG”. B, on the other hand, remained sceptical, viewing much of it as “an absolute crock”. He recounts a story about people claiming demons were interfering with their car’s brakes and accelerator. “There was that sort of thing happening around me, but I was never really part of it,” B says.
However, B also shares an experience where he and T, along with others, went to pray outside a shop run by a clairvoyant, seeking to “cast some demons out”. He remembers, “here we all were essentially casting our own incantations in front of this shop, thinking we were casting out demons and saving the world, arresting the demons essentially”. This anecdote highlights the performative aspect of some demon-related practices, as well as the tendency to see the demonic in anything deemed “unspiritual,” such as the bong shop next door. “Yes, well you know when demons set up shop they might as well set up next door to each other,” B quips.
T’s experience with a “deliverance” session reveals a more sinister side of this phenomenon. Seeking freedom from personal struggles, he allowed himself to be subjected to a lengthy exorcism. During the session, he divulged intimate details of his life, only to have this information used against him years later. “So, I had to sit down with my then fiancée and have a big conversation about my childhood trauma because the spin was somehow that I was this terrible, horrible person,” T recounts. This illustrates how such practices can be deeply disempowering, violating boundaries and creating further control.
B astutely observes, “It is that control which we saw over and over. That’s just another aspect of it”. He humorously adds, “My theory is if there were demons there, after three hours they would have left out of boredom”.
The hosts also discuss the hypocrisy and contradictions often present in these environments. They share stories of individuals being labelled as demon-possessed for exhibiting perfectly normal reactions to traumatic events or mistreatment. In one particularly disturbing anecdote, a person was physically assaulted during an attempted exorcism, only to be accused of having a “spirit of unforgiveness” for struggling to be around their attacker.
T recalls a prayer meeting where a woman started laughing, leading to accusations of a “mocking spirit”. When asked to name the spirit, she sarcastically replied, “I dunno. Satan?”. This prompted further accusations of a “lying spirit,” as the group struggled to reconcile their beliefs with the woman’s behaviour.
B raises a fundamental question: “I mean, that was one of the things that never sat comfortably with me was all these Christians having demons – if God is so real and God is inhabiting this vessel, this person, then how can a demon also be in there? It just didn’t make sense to me”. This highlights the inherent logical inconsistencies within these belief systems.
Ultimately, the podcast reveals the harmful consequences of demonising personal struggles and using fear as a means of control. It underscores the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and seeking professional help when needed, rather than relying on simplistic explanations and potentially abusive practices.
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If you’re navigating the complex aftermath of leaving a fundamentalist Christian background, remember that you’re not alone. Questioning these beliefs is a sign of intellectual and spiritual growth. There’s a whole community of people with similar experiences, and it’s possible to find healing and freedom from these fears.
Continue exploring these themes and sharing your own experiences in the I was a Teenage Fundamentalist Facebook group.