A confrontation with the Evil

I stood near the exit leaning against a column and watched as the visitors of the divine service gradually left the room. Then suddenly a young man unknown to me came up to me and spoke to me: "Could I talk to you? Such a thing is not unusual after a service and so I answered without hesitation:" Yes, of course! What is it about? He said, without showing even the slightest emotion, "I am possessed by demons!
   Surprised, I looked at the young man, but could not see anything remarkable about him. He looked quite normal. "Yes', I replied, 'for me there is no question, of course, that there are demons. And that they can also take possession of someone. But' and here I looked at him thoughtfully, 'demons are not always the cause of difficulties. Couldn't it also be that you have some psychological problems? He shook his head energetically: "No, they are demons. I know exactly what they are!
     For a moment I stood there at a loss, then I said: "Well, we can check it out! And if it really is as you say, free yourself from them. Is that your wish? He nodded. I looked around the church service room and saw Tom, a very likeable Englishman, standing in front talking to two young women. "Wait a moment here," I said to the young man. "I will get someone to support me. Such things are better done in pairs!
    When I reached Tom and the two women, their conversation stopped and all three looked at me questioningly. "Sorry," I said to Tom, "but could you help me? "Of course," he said, and towards the young women: "See you next Sunday! On the way to the young man, I briefly enlightened Tom. He just said: "I see! Okay, let's see what happens!"
 
The three of us had gone over to the big church hall. Most of them had already left the congregation anyway, but if they really needed an "exorcism of demons", this was better done in a certain seclusion.
   I wasn't sure if the young man was right about his situation. But we would quickly find out. I was absolutely sure of that. And so I placed a chair on an open space in the middle of the room and asked Stefan, the young man's name, to sit on it. Tom and I stopped.
   "Well, Stefan', I said, 'it's clear what it's all about. But first I want to assure you that nothing will happen without your consent and we will end it immediately if you want us to. Is that okay with you?" He nodded.
   "Good' I continued, 'then Tom and I will now lay our hands on you and I will command the demons in the name of Jesus to come forward. Is that okay for you?" Stefan nodded again. I looked at him. He looked pale, but calm. "Okay', I said to Tom, looking over, 'let's get started'.
 
As announced, we laid our hands on Stefan's head and shoulder. Then I said, "If there is a strange spirit in Stefan's body, I order him to come forward in the name of Jesus and give his name! This was done according to the story of the Bible, where Jesus commanded the spirits in a possessed man to call their name.
   But what happened now was completely unexpected for me and Tom. As if swept from the chair by a mighty invisible hand, Stefan flew several meters into a corner of the room and wound himself there on the floor.
   After the first moment of shock I ran to him. I grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him in the face. His eyes were completely twisted, his pupils no longer visible, and an egg-sized bump had formed on his neck.
   Now everything was clear: "Stefan, do you hear me? For a moment his eyes returned to their original position and he replied: "Yes! Then he twisted his eyes again, falling back into the previous apathetic state.
   I shouted at the spirit in him with fierce determination: "In the name of Jesus, go out! The result was a violent shaking of the head. "Call your name," I ordered. Stefan's eyes returned to their original form and he gave a name.

As announced, we laid our hands on Stefan's head and shoulder. Then I said: "If there is a strange spirit in Stefan's body, I order him now in the name of Jesus to come forward and call his name! This was done according to the story of the Bible, where Jesus commanded the spirits in a possessed man to call their name.
   But what happened now was completely unexpected for me and Tom. As if swept from the chair by a mighty invisible hand, Stefan flew several meters into a corner of the room and wound himself there on the floor.
   After the first moment of shock I ran to him. I grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him in the face. His eyes were completely twisted, his pupils no longer visible, and an egg-sized bump had formed on his neck.
   Now everything was clear: "Stefan, do you hear me? For a moment his eyes returned to their original position and he replied: "Yes! Then he twisted his eyes again, falling back into the previous apathetic state.
   I shouted at the spirit in him with fierce determination: "In the name of Jesus, go out! The result was a violent shaking of the head. "Call your name," I ordered. Stefan's eyes returned to their original form and he gave a name.

Well, I'll save the reader the rest of the almost two-hour, quite violent, loud procedure. In the end Stefan had asked us to stop. When we were back in the room as normal, his bump on his neck had disappeared again, he said: "Thank you. Some demons have gone. But not all of them! "Then we go on! And if it lasts the whole night", I offered him. But he replied: "No, another time! I will come again"
   When he left, I was overcome by a deep tiredness. I said to Tom: "I think we should go to sleep now. We can talk about this another time." He nodded and said, "Okay, good bye! See you," and also left the room. I turned off all the lights, locked the church main door behind me and went into my apartment.

 Addendum: This story may seem strange or irritating to some. Aren't devils and demons part of a medieval superstition that has long since been overcome? Are there not better explanations for such extreme events as described here?
    No, I think it is a serious mistake to negate the existence of devils and demons and to think that they are symbols of inner psychic processes: