Do you think it's possible for an animal to get possessed?

Question

If not...why do some churches bless animals? Do you think an exorcism could be done on an animal?

(Someone posted a question about taking dogs on investigations. I'm not sure this would be a good idea..if they could get easily possessed.)

Answer 1

I ve seen dog that could have passed for possessed.

Answer 2

No,but somepeople get possessed when they see there phone bills.

Answer 3

yes, in the new testament Matthew 8:28  Jesus allowed two demons to leave some possesed men and go into a group of swine

Answer 4

I don't see why an animal couldn't be possessed. Biblically speaking, Jesus does the exocism with the demon "Legion", (the story is in both Luke and Mark) and the demon goes into some pigs.

I think its a little excessive to do exorcism on animals. I think if a demon had a choice between a dog and a man, he would choose to possess the man.

Answer 5

i think that stuff is all a bunch of hooey

Answer 6

yes just watch the omen movies

Answer 7

Dogs can hear thing in which we can not. Dogs know when spirits are around and if they are good or bad.

Most spirits will not possessed animals because it will limit there abilities.

Answer 8

absolutely.. i don't have any personal stories supporting this but  i honestly do think its possible.

Answer 9

As Wushu correctly points out this idea is supported by Biblical stories.

I do wonder how you would determine this since for instance the Catholic church has very strict criteria for determining if a person is possessed. For example a pet could not speak a dead language that they were never exposed to (if they do I would be convinced on that alone) so what do you look for in an animal to make a determination?

Of course one would have to eliminate all the normal causes that you could think of (brain tumor, disease, pain, injury, etc.) and meet the criteria for a possession.

Of course you would have to do this by actual investigation not after the fact arm chair analysis.

I think this question could be the start of a research paper or book :)

Psi

Answer 10

Assuming such a thing were possible, how would you know the animal was possessed?

Exorcism rituals really only work on people who adherents of the belief system on which the ritual is based.  In other words, if a Catholic is "possessed", then he will not be cleared of demons by a Buddhist monk.  That is because both the possession and the exorcism are psychologically motivated.  As such, an animal wouldn't be conscious of its possession or its exorcism, so I can't see a special ritual getting anything done for a misbehaving animal.