Liberation from the demon and the demonic:critical analysis of women's experience in spirit possession

Abstract

This project is about spirit possession and its meanings from many disciplines, including theology, psychology, anthropology, and religion. In this dissertation, I explore experiences of spirit possession by women in many different cultures and sociological backgrounds. I propose that spirit possession is not simply a psychological phenomenon that demonstrates abnormality of individual human psyche but it also reveals the reality of oppressive social and cultural structures that call for radical transformation, particularly for women. I recognize that spirit possession provides many women temporary respite from psychosocial pathologies and, at the same time, sabotages their real liberation from the institutional or ideological evil that confines them with limited gender roles. From a pastoral theological perspective, I suggest that genuine spirituality must both comfort the victims and confronts individuals or socio-institutional forces with efficient culture-specific strategies for change.