Sociology of Exorcism in Late Modernity

Giuseppe Giordan is Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion at the University of Padua, Italy.Adam Possamai is Professor of Sociology and Director of Research at the School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Australia.

• 1. Introduction .- 2. The Sociology of Exorcism .- 3. Case Study of Catholic Exorcism: Visiting an Exorcist .- 4. Case Study of Catholic Exorcism: Undergoing Exorcism .- 5. Religious Competition over Exorcism .- 6. The Over-policing, and Decriminalizing, of the Devil .

“This is an excellent and timely contribution to the sociology of religion. Giordan and Possamai’s study provides an historical account of the development of exorcism in Western Christianity, an extensive literature review, and original data on the contemporary significance of the rite of exorcism. Given the extent of belief in the Devil in modern society, we can read this volume as a critique of the secularization thesis that assumed the decline of religion with modernization.” (Bryan S. Turner, Journal of Sociology, January 17, 2019)“Sociology of Exorcism in Late Modernity is a sociological work that attempts to explain the growth of exorcism in the contemporary period. … I know of no other study that has attempted such a far-reaching project, but hopefully this work will inspire others to do so in the future.” (Michael E. Heyes, Nova Religio, Vol. 22 (4), May, 2019)