Deliverance ministry

{{bronze}}[[File:Pigs In the Parlor.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The so-called "practical guide" that started it all.]]{{christianity}}
{{cquote|'''Merrin:''' I cast you out, unclean spirit…<br>
'''Regan:''' ''[possessed voice]'' Shove it up your ass, you [[Homophobia|faggot]]!|||''The Exorcist''<ref>[https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Exorcist_%28film%29#Regan_MacNeil ''The Exorcist'' on Wikiquote]</ref>, showing us that homophobia is the work of Satan}}
'''Deliverance ministry''' is a term describing a [[Christianity|Christian]] organisation that attempts to cure people's ills by [[exorcism|casting out]] [[Demonic possession|demons]], making it very similar to [[faith healing]]. The bible of the deliverance movement (well, aside from the actual [[Bible]], of course) is ''Pigs in the Parlor: A Practical Guide to Deliverance'', written by Frank and Ida Mae Hammond and first published in 1973.

One of the more curious aspects of deliverance ministries to an outsider is the pantheon of oddly-named spirits. [[Neopagan]] policeman Kerr Cuhulain sums it up best when commenting on a list of [[demons]] posted on the Demonbuster [[webshite]]: "You'd think that this would be a list of names like 'Belial' or 'Astartoth', but it isn't. It is a strange, mixed up list of emotions, personal characteristics, mental disorders, world [[religions]] and [[meditation]] techniques".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306085923/http://witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=cabc&c=whs&id=6210 Demonbusters (2)]. Archived from witchvox.com, 7 April 2003.</ref> The general idea is that individual demons are named after their purposes, so that a demon who provokes lust is named Lust. This is taken to comical extremes, as we shall see.

==Prominent deliverance ministers==
====The Hammonds and ''Pigs in the Parlor''====
{{cquote|...we have seen rhythmic and dancing spirits manifest themselves through motions of the body, especially in the swaying of the hips. One young woman whose body vibrated from the manifestation of the rhythmic spirit, disclosed afterward that she had been a professional dancer and worked for a while as a “Go-Go” dancing girl. This spirit proved to be the ruling spirit within her. The [[devil]] has his counterfeit and perversion for all that is good and right.<ref name=hammond />}}

"Demon spirits can invade and indwell human bodies", states the Hammonds' book. "It is their objective to do so."<ref name=hammond>Hammond, Frank and Ida Mae (1973). ''Pigs in the Parlor.'' Kirkwood: Impact Books. {{isbn|0-89228-027-1}}.</ref>{{rp|1}} The book calls for Christians to "put pressure upon the demons and defeat them".<ref name=hammond />{{rp|5}}

This is the basic hypothesis put forward by the Hammonds, and indeed the entire deliverance movement. The book provides a list of demons<ref name=hammond />{{rp|113-115}} who allegedly cause everything from [[murder]]ousness and [[schizophrenia]] to [[sleep|sleepiness]], [[Anti-intellectualism|intellectualism]]<ref>The [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] and Dominicans would like a word!</ref> and [[homosexuality]]. The only way to cure a person of these conditions, say the Hammonds, is by casting out these demons.

The Hammonds also venture into ''Exorcist'' territory by noting, "It is not uncommon for demons to speak through a person who is being delivered."<ref name=hammond />{{rp|2}}

====Moody 'n' the Madraks====
Gene Moody, a disciple of the Hammonds, wrote a 700 page screed called simply ''Deliverance Manual''.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/the-complete-deliverance-manual-gene-moody The Complete Deliverance Manual]. Deliverance Ministries, Baton Rouge, [[Louisiana]]. "Not copyrighted".</ref> Building on the basic concepts behind ''Pigs in the Parlor'', the manual includes a chapter entitled "Cleaning Your House (of Demons)" speaking approvingly of a someone chucking out their kid's Big Bird toy in the belief that it gave [[Satan]] "legal grounds".<ref name=cleaning>[http://www.demonbuster.com/cyh.html CLEANING YOUR HOUSE (OF DEMONS)] ''Demonbuster''</ref>

Moody picked up disciples of his own: Stan and Elizabeth Madrak, owners of the Demonbuster webshite, the End-Time Deliverance Ministry. The site reads almost as a parody of Moody and the Hammonds, with words CAPITALISED seemingly at RANDOM and everything from diabetes (excuse me, DIABETES)<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/diabetic.html DIABETIC SPIRITS] ''Demonbuster''</ref> to financial problems<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/idols.html "HOUSECLEANING" IDOLS AND IDOLATRY] ''Demonbuster''</ref> blamed on demons. Stan Madrak claims that people who laugh at him get punished by God,<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/mockers.html MOCKERS - THE JUDGMENT OF GOD DOES FALL] ''Demonbuster''</ref> so watch out.

====Jay Bartlett and his flock====
Another deliverance minister of note is [[Jay Bartlett]], owner of the Ministering Deliverance webshite. The site contains a lively forum where he posts under the name of "Rescuer"  and regales his followers with unhinged ravings about "sadistic cults"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100927042530/http://ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2697&start=0 Resolve of the Sadistic Cult will not Prevail] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref> and anecdotes about dolls coming to life.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412201340/http://ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=24497&#24497 talking doll] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref> Other members of the community include "msproverbs31", who is deeply concerned about her son's interest in ''Dragonball Z'';<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412201245/http://ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3196 Effectively Dealing With Witchcraft] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref> "nautical999", infamous on [[Fundies Say the Darndest Things]] for the Leviathan Bathtub story; <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090514015423/http://www.ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3213&start=7 Liviathian] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref> <ref>[http://www.fstdt.com/QuoteComment.aspx?QID=60847 The Quote of Quotes Look on this work, ye Mighty, and despair!] ''Fundies Say the Darndest Things''</ref> and "pastoraal504", whose writing style has to be seen to be believed.<ref>[http://www.ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB3/search.php?keywords=&terms=all&author=pastoraal*&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search Search found 117 matches] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref>

====Win Worley====
[[File:Win Worley.jpg|thumb|right|Somewhat obsessed with demons and [[sex]].]]{{cquote|What would have seemed impossible thirty years ago has come to pass, you can receive a message to your mind and never see the message with your conscious mind or physical eyes. This is a subliminal message. We were given a book about subliminal messages. '''In one ad, very cleverly concealed in the ice cubes, was a woman in a sexual pose with an animal.'''  Although you probably would not see it with your eyes, unconsciously you would get the message: drink - sex - bestiality.|||Win Worley<ref name=worley /> (emphasis in original)}}
Win Worley wrote a number of deliverance-themed books and pamphlets<ref>[https://wrwpublications.com/ WRW Publications], "Official Website for Audio, Video, Books and Booklets from Pastor Win Worley and Michael Thierer."</ref><ref>[https://www.impactchristianbooks.com/worley-books Worley books]. Impact Christian Books.</ref> and preached a number of sermons, some of which are available on YouTube.<ref name=worley>[http://web.archive.org/web/20120103013526/http://www.moodymanual.demonbuster.com/winworl3.html WIN WORLEY COMMENTS ON SEX] ''Demonbuster''</ref> He claimed that [[oral sex]] demons "reside in the mouth, lips, tongue, taste buds, throat, sex organs and the mind."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zyt5rGYfVc Playing Russian Roulette with Cursed Objects - Win Worley] ''YouTube''</ref> Sounds kinky, dunnit?

====Bob Larson====
[[Bob Larson]] is a former anti-[[rock music]] evangelist and Christian talk radio shock jock who found the [[exorcism]]s he performed on the air were the most popular part of his show. Smelling much money to be made, he now has a full time deliverance ministry in [[Arizona]], the Spiritual Freedom Church.  Ever the media hound, he has his own "reality TV" show, ''The Real Exorcist''. [[John Safran]] visited Bob Larson for an exorcism as part of his ''John Safran vs. God'' series.

====Rebecca Brown====
[[Rebecca Brown]] was a former medical doctor who had her license revoked in part for repeatedly misdiagnosing serious illnesses as "demons, devils, and evil spirits".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980425042831/http://answers.org/Satan/Brown.html The Bizarre Case of Dr. Rebecca Brown]</ref> She became better known when [[Jack Chick]] published two of her books at the height of the [[Satanic panic]], including the discredited ''He Came to Set The Captives Free''.  Her subsequent books such as ''Prepare for War'' and ''Unbroken Curses'' are alleged deliverance manuals rehashing material from ''Pigs in the Parlor'' with the addition of some of Brown's own unique batshittery.
====Greg Locke====
Fresh off of capitalizing on right wing grievances, Pastor [[Greg Locke]] decided to get his hands into deliverance ministries.

==Owls and frogs==
{{cquote|...I have become aware of how many of these unclean creatures are being made into art objects and used for decorations. This is especially true of owls and frogs. It is more than coincidence that both of these are creatures of darkness. They come out at night and hunt their prey. Demons are also creatures of darkness. They cannot operate in the light!|||''Pigs in the Parlor''<ref name=hammond />}}

Deliverance ministries are obsessed with owls and frogs; this goes back at least as far as ''Pigs in the Parlor''. The Hammonds' book provides an anecdote about a little girl who allegedly suffered from nightmares until toy frogs and owls in her bedroom were thrown out, as the animals in question are "types of demon spirits".<ref name=hammond />{{rp|141-142}} The Hammonds point to {{bible|Deuteronomy|14|7|19}} as evidence for this weird claim; however, this bit of scripture only forbids eating the animals, along with a number of other creatures which are apparently [[God hates shrimp|not seen by the Hammonds as demonic.]] The Hammonds' comments on owls and frogs were deemed important enough by Gene Moody for him to quote in his manual.<ref name=cleaning/> The Madraks also follow suit: "Been sick a lot in your life? Can't sleep at night? If you look around your house, you may find pictures and the like of frogs and owls. Oh No! Not my ceramic frogs and owls? YES! The Bible says that owls and frogs are [[Abomination|abominable]] things."<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/miracle.html "THE MIRACLE OF DELIVERANCE"] ''Demonbuster''</ref>

Win Worley provides an interesting anecdote about a woman becoming possessed after collecting owl ornaments. "In a meeting in northern [[Wisconsin]], I mentioned owls and frogs as objects which should not be in your home. The next night a school teacher came for [[prayer]]… When I commanded any spirits connected with the owls to manifest, her mouth dropped open and terrible wails came out." It gets weirder from there.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110817180851/http://hbcdelivers.s439.sureserver.com/grounds-for-demonic-attack-2 GROUNDS FOR DEMONIC ATTACK] ''Hegewisch Baptist Church''</ref>

"A couple had a one-eyed stuffed large frog named 'Max'", states the website of Paul Nowlen's ''Free in the Lord Ministries''. "After some period of time they began to talk about him as if he were a family member. Max sat on a bookcase and eventually the couple 'noticed his eye' seemed to be looking at them. God revealed the demonic properties of Max, he was trashed and the curses broken that demons had put on the frog."<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20160308151323/http://freeinthelordministries.com/Dolls.htm Dolls, Puppets and Stuffed Animals] ''Free in the Lord Ministries'' (archived from March 8, 2016)</ref>

Rebecca Brown has the same obsession with toy owls and frogs harboring demons, and extends it to [[unicorn]]s, wind chimes, immigration papers, some kinds of "tagging" graffiti, and stained glass window ornaments. This line of thought could be taken to ridiculous extremes. If someone becomes convinced their problems are caused by "demons", but they continue to have the same problems after a deliverance or [[exorcism]], the next step might to be clean house and look for anything around the home which might harbor demons. If getting rid of owls and frogs doesn't help, get rid of the wind chimes, fuzzy dice, and toy unicorns. If that doesn't work, your expensive art might be the problem. Of course, if you have gotten to that point, maybe you missed the one obvious thing you really should have chucked out: the Hammond and Brown books.

==Names of demons==
These are amongst the more interesting demons that have been identified by deliverance ministries. {{wpl|Jacques Collin de Plancy}} must be spinning in his grave.

{{columns-list|3|
* Body Twitches<ref name=moody/>
* [[Fun:Cthulhu|Cthulhu]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412201300/http://ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=35067&#35067 Casting Demons Out, in a Hasidic Community, in Brooklyn, NY!] ''Ministering Deliverance''</ref>
* Dirty Old Man<ref name=dembus/>
* Doubting manhood<ref name=moody>[http://www.demonbuster.com/lod.html LISTS OF DEMONS TO CAST OUT IN THE NAME OF JESUS] ''Demonbuster''</ref>
* Groping<ref name=moody/>
* [[Roma|Gypsy]]<ref name=dembus/>
* [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111118015105/http://www.ministeringdeliverance.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4054 a veritable smorgasbord of demons]</ref>
* [[Lesbianism]]<ref name=moody/>
* [[Oral sex|Oral Sex]]<ref name=worley/>
* Pretension<ref name=moody/>
* Shows like "Merlin"<ref name=dembus>[http://www.demonbuster.com/lod3.html LISTS OF DEMONS TO CAST OUT IN THE NAME OF JESUS Page 3] ''Demonbuster''</ref>
* Sore Botch of Knees<ref name=moody/>
* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger|The Terminator]]<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/terminator.html THE TERMINATOR -- TERMINUS] ''Demonbuster''</ref>
* [[The Walt Disney Company#Walt Disney himself|Walt Disney]]<ref name=dembus/>
* Worship of [[Capitalism|enterprise]]<ref name=moody/>
* You can't make me<ref>[http://www.demonbuster.com/potty.html POTTY TRAINED AFTER DELIVERANCE] ''Demonbuster''</ref>
}}

==External links==
*[http://www.boblarson.org/ Website of Bob Larson's Ministry]
*[http://www.demonbuster.com/ Demonbuster.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060402221150/http://ministeringdeliverance.com/ Ministering Deliverance]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Paranormal]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]

Categories: Paranormal, Organizations, Christianity, Purity culture