THE ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY OF PROPHECY, DIVINATION, SHAMANISM AND SPIRITUALISTIC MEDIUMSHIP

Authors

  • V. M. James Dr. Kirubakaran Samuel 1.Research scholar, Department of Sociology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608002 2. Professor and Wing Head, Sociology Wing, DDE, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608002

Keywords:

Prophecy, Divination, Shamanism and Spiritualistic Mediumship

Abstract

Conservative and fundamentalist Christians have an understanding that prophecy which is entirely different from divination, shamanism and spiritualistic mediumship, is a supernatural phenomenon and a means of God’s revelation. Against this, by analyzing various psychological studies, this paper shows that basically prophecy, divination and spiritualistic mediumship are just different phases of one phenomenon namely shamanism, and none of them have any supernatural origin, instead they all have their origin in the mental dissociation caused by some physio and psychological abnormalities like epileptic seizure, fits, schizophrenia, hysteria (or Somatoform and dissociative disorders) etc. thus having health problems in their background, they cause many other problems related to physical and mental health, behavior, understanding and social relationship. Hence, a change in the conservative fundamentalist understanding on prophecy, revelation etc. is recommended.

References

Baker, J.P. (1986). Prophecy, Prophets. c.f. J.D. Douglas (Ed.), New Bible Dictionary (2nd Ed). Leicester: Intervarsity Press.

Gordon, Cyrus H. (1953). Introduction to Old Testament times. New York: Ventnor Publishers.

Osipova, Yelena. (1979). Ausguste Comte and the Origin of positive sociology. c.f. I.S. Kon (Ed.), A History of classical Sociology (Pp. 35-37), Moscow: Progress Publishers.

Rawcliffe, D.H. (1959). Illusions and delusions of the supernatural and the occult (the psychology of the occult). New York: Dover Publications.

White, Victor. (1953). God and the unconscious. Chicago: Henry Reginery Company.

Wright, J.S. (1986). Divination. c.f. J.D. Douglas (Ed.), New Bible Dictionary (2nd Ed.). Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Soanes, Catherine (Ed.) (2001). The Compact Oxford reference Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press.

Davies, Witton T. (1915.), Divination. c.f. Orr, James, (Ed), "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Available online. 2010. http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/divination.html. Accessed 13 August 2015.

Passer, Michael. W. & Smith, Roland, E. (2007). Psychology: The Signs of mind and behavior, 3rd edition. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.

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Published

2015-09-30

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 10 (2015): SEPTEMBER 2015

Section

Articles

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