The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle Page B
Authors: Gerald Brittle
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a methodical way. One of the worst cases of possession ever recorded by the Roman Catholic Church in America occurred in the 1920s when a father cursed his own daughter to the devil.
“Once I get certain questions answered,” Ed continues, “then I have them explain the phenomena that have occurred. Have they seen objects move or levitate? If they tell me a refrigerator has levitated, I know this is beyond the power of human PK. Have they seen things disappear? Have they seen objects move through walls? Have substances, objects, or animals manifested mysteriously? After an hour of such questioning, I'll know whether or not the people are on the level; if the activity is by chance or design; if there is an intelligence behind the phenomena, and if that intelligence is apt to be human or demonic in origin.”
When called in to investigate a typical case where bizarre events are happening, do the Warrens work alone or are others present to witness the disturbance?
“First,” says Lorraine, “there is no such thing as a ‘typical case’: every case is different and has its own peculiar dynamics. As for witnesses, most of the time other people see the activity besides Ed, myself, and the principals involved. Sometimes Ed and I do happen to be the first outsiders to arrive on the scene, but once arrangements are made for us to begin an investigation, we'll work with a number of very capable assistants. For example, Ed’s chief assistant is a knowledgeable young man named Paul Bartz, who’s been with us now for many years and has frequently been exposed to demoniacal activity. Also, we’ll usually arrive with a photographer who’ll be there to photograph the activity as it occurs, as well as any spirit forms that can be captured on film. In rare cases where communication with the entity is called for, a deep-trance medium may also come along. If inhuman spirits seem to be behind the disturbance, then Ed will often bring along a priest or acolyte who wants firsthand experience with demoniacal phenomena. Later on, if the activity is being caused by inhuman powers, a local clergyman and an exorcist will be present as witnesses.
“However, you should also remember that before we arrive, friends, neighbors, relatives, police, parapsychologists, psychologists, and psychic researchers may all have witnessed the activity in an attempt to help determine what’s behind the problem. Since spirits are usually the last thing people think of, Ed and I are therefore the last ones to be called in.”
Is there some special way these cases initially start—the bad ones, that is?
“That’s a very general question,” Lorraine replies, “but let me answer it this way. Emotions in a home will tend to trigger off phenomena. A happy home is therefore your best protection against invisible intruders. Ghosts don’t tend to be happy, as a rule; they’ll usually manifest to someone they can relate to emotionally. The same holds true for inhuman spirits—except in those instances, emotions would have to be very intense to draw in a negative demonic entity. But in a great many cases we have investigated, the phenomena were invited in . People who thought the supernatural was harmless or didn’t believe it was there at all, brought the activity into their lives through their own free will!’’
A particularly striking aspect to demoniacal phenomena is that the demonic spirit is actually moved to violence when exposed to religious articles, the recitation of prayers, or reference to God or Jesus Christ. As Ed explains, this is why the study of the demonic is a religious, not a scientific subject.
“The subject is not religious because I say it’s religious, or because I want to believe it’s true,” declares Ed. “I say the phenomenon is religious because that’s the power that it —the demonic spirit—responds to. People might not believe in God, but these spirits do.”
Is there any other way to understand the inhuman
“Once I get certain questions answered,” Ed continues, “then I have them explain the phenomena that have occurred. Have they seen objects move or levitate? If they tell me a refrigerator has levitated, I know this is beyond the power of human PK. Have they seen things disappear? Have they seen objects move through walls? Have substances, objects, or animals manifested mysteriously? After an hour of such questioning, I'll know whether or not the people are on the level; if the activity is by chance or design; if there is an intelligence behind the phenomena, and if that intelligence is apt to be human or demonic in origin.”
When called in to investigate a typical case where bizarre events are happening, do the Warrens work alone or are others present to witness the disturbance?
“First,” says Lorraine, “there is no such thing as a ‘typical case’: every case is different and has its own peculiar dynamics. As for witnesses, most of the time other people see the activity besides Ed, myself, and the principals involved. Sometimes Ed and I do happen to be the first outsiders to arrive on the scene, but once arrangements are made for us to begin an investigation, we'll work with a number of very capable assistants. For example, Ed’s chief assistant is a knowledgeable young man named Paul Bartz, who’s been with us now for many years and has frequently been exposed to demoniacal activity. Also, we’ll usually arrive with a photographer who’ll be there to photograph the activity as it occurs, as well as any spirit forms that can be captured on film. In rare cases where communication with the entity is called for, a deep-trance medium may also come along. If inhuman spirits seem to be behind the disturbance, then Ed will often bring along a priest or acolyte who wants firsthand experience with demoniacal phenomena. Later on, if the activity is being caused by inhuman powers, a local clergyman and an exorcist will be present as witnesses.
“However, you should also remember that before we arrive, friends, neighbors, relatives, police, parapsychologists, psychologists, and psychic researchers may all have witnessed the activity in an attempt to help determine what’s behind the problem. Since spirits are usually the last thing people think of, Ed and I are therefore the last ones to be called in.”
Is there some special way these cases initially start—the bad ones, that is?
“That’s a very general question,” Lorraine replies, “but let me answer it this way. Emotions in a home will tend to trigger off phenomena. A happy home is therefore your best protection against invisible intruders. Ghosts don’t tend to be happy, as a rule; they’ll usually manifest to someone they can relate to emotionally. The same holds true for inhuman spirits—except in those instances, emotions would have to be very intense to draw in a negative demonic entity. But in a great many cases we have investigated, the phenomena were invited in . People who thought the supernatural was harmless or didn’t believe it was there at all, brought the activity into their lives through their own free will!’’
A particularly striking aspect to demoniacal phenomena is that the demonic spirit is actually moved to violence when exposed to religious articles, the recitation of prayers, or reference to God or Jesus Christ. As Ed explains, this is why the study of the demonic is a religious, not a scientific subject.
“The subject is not religious because I say it’s religious, or because I want to believe it’s true,” declares Ed. “I say the phenomenon is religious because that’s the power that it —the demonic spirit—responds to. People might not believe in God, but these spirits do.”
Is there any other way to understand the inhuman
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