Demonology, Real Life Possessions, and the DEADLIEST Cults Ever
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Show notes
Professor Joseph Laycock joins Askia to break down demonology, exorcism, and the academic study of spirit possession. They cover the real history behind "The Exorcist," the global prevalence of demon beliefs, the Satanic Panic, and why unregulated exorcisms can get people killed.
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https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2206651/joseph-p-laycock/
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002I728MQ?ccs_id=290752eb-287c-4dff-b55c-e86b6ce01b23
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Joseph Laycock is a religious studies professor that gets roughly two calls a month from people convinced they're possessed (he stays out of it, because he's not a mental health professional, and he's definitely not an exorcist). This episode goes deep on the etymology of the word "demon," the Nephilim, books that got cut from the Bible, and why "The Exorcist" triggered a wave of real exorcism requests that still hasn't stopped.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introducing Joseph Laycock
01:48 - Growing up with religion and horror
03:40 - Alien abductions
05:53 - Demons in modern society
10:21 - Religious studies vs theology
12:59 - Exorcisms gone horribly wrong
14:20 - What really is a demon?
18:36 - Animal sacrifice
23:27 - Nephilim and the Book of Enoch
31:08 - Possessions and inherited demons
35:28 - Santería
38:20 - Santa Muerte
42:58 - Spirit possessions around the world
50:16 - What does Hell look like in other religions?
56:01 - The impact of The Exorcist (1973)
1:06:43 - The Satanic Panic
1:14:44 - Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker)
1:15:12 - 764 criminal organization
1:19:46 - What exorcisms actually look like
1:32:15 - What is a cult?
1:38:18 - Jonestown cult
1:40:10 - Branch Davidians cult FBI standoff
1:42:26 - Order of the Solar Temple cult
1:42:42 - Aum Shinrikyo cult
1:42:58 - Heaven's Gate cult
1:45:10 - The occult
