Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "richard-gallagher"

Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal by Richard Gallagher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A captivating study of diabolic attacks from a professor of psychiatry.

Richard Gallagher's 'Demonic Foes' is part memoir, part study in demonology, a fascinating exploration of the reality behind phenomena we often witness in horror fiction. As a psychiatrist and member of the International Association of Exorcists, Dr. Gallagher has spent many years working alongside exorcists to combat demonic assaults - including oppression, infestation, and possession - and lead sufferers to their path to deliverance.

Gallagher's involvement began when he was contacted by a priest to undertake a psychiatric assessment of someone believed to be possessed. Contrary to common misconception, responsible clergy will seek medical and psychological assessment prior to an exorcism being performed. As Gallagher notes, the vast majority of suspected diabolic attacks ultimately prove not to be so. Yet, despite their relative rarity, some prove to be paranormal in origin.

In addition to selected accounts of suspected cases of possession he has assessed, Gallagher also details comparison to cases of psychosis and personality disorders, defining how they and spiritual attacks present differently. Gallagher also examines a history of belief in demons, evil spirits and possession across belief systems, with particular focus on the Abrahamic religions and the development of the concept of the Devil and his legion of fallen angels.

It should be noted that, as a Catholic, his beliefs influence his views on spiritualism, pre-Christian beliefs and Eastern religions. Nevertheless, the narrative is largely balanced and consideration given that belief systems in opposition to some Christian beliefs are not necessarily malignant. Regardless of your own beliefs or agnosticism on the subject, 'Demonic Foes' is an endlessly intriguing dossier of spiritual inquiry, religious history, psychological insight, and witness evidence. Intelligent and thought-provoking, it proves powerful testimony for the existence of malign spiritual forces.



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