I had a lot of traffic on my website recently when the movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” came out. Exorcism is still a hot topic and yesterday I watch the movie myself in an almost sold out cinema. While the movie was marketed as a typical horror flick, it actually did offer a interesting storyline. The movie starts of where Wilhelm Friedkins “The Exorcist” ends, with the priest walking out of a room after an exorcism. In this case, the “possessed” girl is dead. The priest is arrested and put on trial . A large part of the rest of the movie takes place in the courtroom and the events that led to the death of Emily Rose are shown in flashbacks. At the end of the movie, the priest is found guilty, but leaves the courtroom as a free men. The main story allows to choose which side you are on, science or faith but the movie leans towards an “paranormal” explanation.
The case is based on the real story of German Anneliese Michel. The young woman died in 1976 of malnutrition caused by anorexia. That is the scientific version of the story. I first got to know about the case of Anneliese Michel when my ex-girlfriend included the case in her dissertation about anorexia. Back then I was only offered the medical point of view, which worked very well for me. A catholic priest misinterpreted a psychological problem of a young woman with demonic possession which lead to the her tragic death.
After the movie I did some research about the real case and about the religious point of view. I found that ultimately it is a leap of faith. What do you believe in? The priest and the family of Anneliese Michel thought they would do the right thing. From a medical point of view it was the wrong thing. But a lot of people die after medical treatment as well and doctors are hardly ever put on trial. Our society has learned to believe in science rather then in faith.
Looking at the history of faith, I’m glad our society does. Too many wars where fought, too many people where tortured and killed in the name of God. Because people just “believed” in something, even without the slightest scientific proof. Today, science has become the only solution for every kind of problem. No room for anything not based on “proofed” facts.
But there should be room for faith. Faith can help people go through crisis where pills become useless. Faith is part of human nature and therefore shouldn’t be negated. But what I believe in is my very own thing, and shouldn’t be forced on others. No matter if you believe in science or religion.