ON REPORTS of demonic possessions, the latest of which was in the Municipality of Argao wherein young students were presumed to have been possessed by evil spirit(s), one may not readily believe them or even ridicule them.
But when one assesses keenly the “prior and after” in an alleged possession, the flaw (faking) could be easily spotted. Demonic possessions seldom happen, and if they do their genuineness is always doubted.
A group of people acting weirdly or in a collective rhythm of exaggerated emotion is a manifestation of what is known in psychology as “mass hysteria.”
Meanwhile, true demonic or satanic possession has been characterized since the Middle Ages in the “Rituale Romanum” by the following four typical characteristics:
--Manifestation of superhuman strength;
--Speaking in tongues or languages that the victim does not know of;
--Revelation of knowledge, distant or hidden, that the victim has not studied or known about;
--Blasphemous rage and an aversion to holy symbols or relics.
In the overwhelming majority cases of alleged demonic possession in modern times, the victim can suffer due to any of a number of personal initiatives: occult practices, mortal sin, loss of faith, or psychological trauma, among others.
The effective cause of possession is the voluntary collaboration of an individual, through his faculties of mind and will, with one or more of those bodiless, genderless creatures called demons.
Legion, Ba-al, Belzeebub, satan were the recurring names of evil that Jesus in His time drove out from the host body (Matt. 8:14-17; 8:-28-34; Mark 1:29-39; Luke 4:33-41).
Evil spirits do not possess human beings just for fun; they always have a purpose.
Students or group of people acting weird, yelling and frothing in the mouth in collective rhythm do not qualify for any of the characteristics mentioned in the “Rituale Romanum.”
Thus, those “acting” should be taken with great precaution and should be reported with clarity. Demonic possessions and mass hysteria are two different things.--Sonny A. Rivera of Minglanilla, Cebu
Smoking in restaurants
(The letter is addressed to Sun.Star Cebu columnist Elias L. Espinoza)
I am very glad you wrote an article about smoking inside restaurants. Even though the law states that restaurants should provide enclosed areas for smokers, but most are ignoring it.
The ones that blatantly ignore this law are usually Japanese and Korean restaurants.
Their justification is that so long as there is a “section” designated as “smoking area,” everything is okay. This even if the space is connected to the non-smoking section and non-smokers will still be affected by the smoke.
I suffer from asthma and smoke is one of its triggers. I have voiced my complaints but was ignored.
You are a lawyer. How do we make these restaurant owners/managers realize they cannot
break the law?
I am hoping that with your article, these Japanese and Korean restaurants will realize
that they have to be sensitive to the needs of customers who do not smoke.
Thank you for voicing out for those who suffer in frustration.--Vanna Gallows