Demonology, Real Life Possessions, and the DEADLIEST Cults Ever

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