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Demon Possession and Exorcism: Medical Explanations?

Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (ET)

Philadelphia, PA

Demon Possession and Exorcism: Medical Explanations?

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Although modern people often dismiss demon possession and exorcism as fantasy or superstition, these two phenomena actually exist. They transcend time and culture, with documented cases appearing in virtually every part of the world, in every religion, and in every century of recorded history. Explanations for their occurrence are offered by theologians and anthropologists, but what about physicians? What medical explanations exist to account for the suffering of people who think they are possessed by demons and the success of exorcism in relieving these same sufferers?  Join Kathleen Sands, PhD for an illustrated lecture exploring the medical history of demon possession and exorcism.

Speaker: Kathleen Sands, PhD, is a humanities professor at the University of Maryland and Thomas Edison State College.  She is also the author of Demon Possession in Elizabethan England and An Elizabethan Lawyer’s Possession by the Devil: The Story of Robert Brigges. Her work has been anthologized in a popular university textbook, The Witchcraft Reader (second edition), edited by Darren Oldridge.

Sponsored by the F.C. Wood Institute for the History of Medicine.

When & Where



The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (ET)


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The College of Physicians of Philadelphia



The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is the oldest medical society & the oldest steward of American Medicine, and is regarded as the “Birthplace of American Medicine”SM, offering insight into medicine’s past, present and future.

Our specimens, book collections, archives, personal journals and ephemera are more relevant today than ever – attracting more visitors and users of our collections and facilities than ever before in our history.

Dedicated to advancing the cause of health while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine, the College remains an unbiased community resource without allegiance to one healthsystem, a particular educational institution or industry.

The College’s historical contributions to medicine are bolstered by our contemporary public health and education programs including PhillyHealthInfo.org, our comprehensive website. This website provides consumers with authoritative, current, and easy to understand health information, as well as phone numbers and locations of support services, programs and health events in their community.