Do you renounce satan? : En kritiskt hermeneutisk analys av hur den stora exorcismriten beskrivs och kommuniceras i den romersk-katolska kyrkan

Sammanfattning: The aim of this essay is to investigate how the solemn rite of exorcism manifests itself within the Roman Catholic Church based on The Roman Ritual: Exorcisms and certain supplications [ECS] (1999) as well as how the rite is communicated in the document. Therefore, the method used is critical hermeneutic analysis and thenceforth the results are analyzed according to Bronislaw Malinowski’s theory of magic, science and religion (1948). The study shows that the rite of major exorcism is explained with clarity in ECS and constantly imbedded in the theology and the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. ECS leaves little room for the executive priest to interpret the execution of the rite. The scripture is very clear that the rite must follow a specific order of events and that some prayers and hymns are mandatory while others can be replaced since ECS clearly states that every solemn exorcism is unique due to the individual receiving the exorcism. Furthermore, ECS clearly states that the church will not perform an exorcism if there is any doubt that the troubled person really is possessed by the Devil or his demons, for in which case the medical science must attend.