SUMMA DÆMONICA BIBLIOGRAFIA

KWABENA: 2006

Emmanuel Kwabena Frimpong

Mark and spirit possession in an African context.

(Teză de doctorat)

University of Glasgow, October 2006, 306 p. (pdf.)

Table of Contents

Abstract, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations. CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION. Motivation for the Research. The Problem. Why Mark's Gospel? Aims of the thesis. Mark's views about his cosmology Western scholars' Interpretations. Contemporary African Readings. Methodology. Desk Research. Participatory Field Research. Structure of the thesis. Intended outcomes for this thesis. CHAPTER 2 2. THE OPENING SCENE OF MARK 1: 9-15. 2. Introduction. 2.2 Best-Robinson Debate. 2.2.1 A Summary of Best's View. 2.2.2 A Summary of Robinson's Views. 2.2.3 Problems associated with the views of Best and Robinson. 2.2.4 The cause of disagreement between both scholars and Solution to the problem. 2.3 The Opening Scene. 2.3.1 The type of world-view the opening scene evokes. 2.3.2 Mark's Views on the Opening Scene. 2.3.3 Background. 2.4 The Baptism of Jesus. 2.4.1 Mark's Views on the Baptism of Jesus: Mark 1:9-11. 2.4.2 Splitting of the heavens. 2.4.3 The Descent of the Spirit. 2.4.4 The Heavenly Voice. 2.5 The temptation Narrative. 2.5.1 Mark's Views on the temptation narrative: Mark 1:12-13. 2.5.2 The brevity of the passage. 2.5.3 The action of the Spirit. 2.5.4 The Features associated with the temptation of Jesus. i The wilderness. ii Forty days. iii The wild beasts. iv The ministering of angels. 2.5.5 The outcome of the temptation. i Jesus' victory over Satan. ii No temptation at all. iii Jesus resists Satan. iv The beginning of the battle. 2.6 The Preaching of the Kingdom of God. 2.6.1 Mark's views on the Preaching of the Kingdom of God Mark 1:14-15. 2.6.2 The presence of Satan's influence. 2.6.3 The background to the Kingdom of God. 2.6.4 The meaning of the Kingdom and of~YYtKf" in 1: 15. 2.6.5 The Kingdom has come. 2.6.6 Conclusion to the proclamation of the Kingdom. 2.7 The relationship of the preaching of the Kingdom to the whole Gospel. 2.8 Robin-Best Debate: Solution and its implications in Mark. 2.9 General conclusion. CHAPTER 3. 3 SPIRIT POSSESSION AND EXORCISM IN MARK. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 The Beelzebul Controversy. 3.2.1 Mark's Views on the Beelzebul Controversy: Mark 3:20-35, 3.2.2 The source of Jesus' power. 3.2.3 The significance of the word 'first'. 3.2.4 The new/true family. 3.2.5 Conclusion. 3.3 Exorcism in the Synagogue. 3.3.1 Mark's Views on the exorcism in the synagogue: Mark 1:21-28. 3.3.2 Exorcism as the opening scene in Jesus' ministry. 3.3.3 The Confrontation. 3.3.4 The dialogue between Jesus and the unclean spirit. 3.3.5 The reaction of Jesus. 3.3.6 Exit of the unclean spirit. 3.3.7 The reaction of the crowd. 3.3.8 Conclusion. 3.4 The Gerasene Demoniac. 3.4.1 Mark's Views on the Gerasene Demoniac: Mark 5:1-20. 3.4.2 The plight of the demoniac. 3.4.3 The confrontation between Jesus and the demoniac. 3.4.4 The request of the demon. 3.4.5 The significance of the drowning of the pigs. 3.4.6 The reaction of the onlookers. 3.4.7 The demonic and Jesus. 3.4.8 Conclusion. 3.5 The Epileptic Boy. 3.5.1 Mark's Views on the Epileptic Boy: Mark 9:14-29. 3.5.2 The dispute between the Scribes and the disciples. 3.5.3 The rebuke of Jesus. 3.5.4 The dialogue between the father of the epileptic boy and Jesus. 3.5.5 The nature of the disease. 3.5.6 The exorcism itself. 3.5.7 The discussion between Jesus and his disciples. 3.5.8 Conclusion. 3.6 The picture painted by Mark. 3.7 The role these exorcisms play in establishing the Kingdom of God. 3.8 What is lacking in the readings of these Western Scholars. 3.9 General conclusion. CHAPTER 4. 4 HEALING IN MARK. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Contemporary understanding of diseases. 4.2.1 General view of diseases: Graeco Roman world. 4.2.2 The Old Testament view of diseases. i Leprosy. II Flow of blood. iii Blindness. tV Fever. 4.3 Detailed Analysis of four specific Ailments in Mark's Gospel. 4.3.1 Fever (Mark 1: 29-31). i Medical cause offever. ii Astrological cause of fever. iii The divine cause of fever. iv The demonic and angelic causes of fever. 4.3.2 Leprosy (Mark 1: 40-45). 4.3.3 Dropsy (Paralysis and withered hand). 4.3.4 Blindness. 4.3.5 Deafness. 4.4 The nature of the narratives, healings or exorcisms? 4.4.1 Exorcisms and healings – Differences. 4.5 Healings or Exorcisms? 4.5.1 Mark 1: 29-31. 4.5.2 Mark 1: 40-45. 4.5.3 Mark 2: 1-12. 4.5.4 Mark 3: 1-6. 4.5.5 Mark 5: 25-34. 4.5.6 Mark 7: 31-37. 4.5.7 Mark 8: 22-26. 4.5.8 Mark 10: 46-52. 4.6 Motifs. 4.7 The Form of the Narratives. 4.7.1 Mark 1: 29-31. 4.7.2 Mark 1: 40-45. 4.7.3 Mark 2: 1-12. 4.7.4 The Positioning of various Units in Mark Chapters One and Two. 4.7.5 Mark 3: 1-6. 4.7.6 Mark 5: 25-34. 4.7.7 Mark 7: 31-37. 4.7.8 Mark 8: 22-26. 4.7.9 Mark 10: 46-52. 4.8 The way Mark presents Jesus in the Healing Stories. 4.8.1 Mark 1: 29-31. 4.8.2 Mark 1: 40-45. 4.8.3 Mark 2: 1-12. 4.8.4 Mark 3: 1-6. 4.8.5 Mark 5: 25-34. 4.8.6 Mark 7: 31-37. 4.8.7 Mark 8: 22-26. 4.8.8 Mark 10: 46-52. 4.9 Healing and the Kingdom. 4.10 Outstanding Tasks. 4.11 General conclusion. CHAPTER 5. 5 EVIL IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION. 5.1.1 African Traditional Religion/Religions. 5.1.2 Common Traditional African Beliefs. 5.1.3 Differences in Beliefs and Practices among tribes in Traditional societies. 5.2 Introduction. 5.3 The Spirit World. 5.3.1 Spirit beings and evil. 5.3.2 God and Evil. i African myths. ii The attributes of God. 5.3.3 Divinities and evil. 5.3.4 Ancestors and evil. 5.3.5 Evil Spirits. 5.4 Human agents of evil. 5.4.1 Witchcraft. i African society and witchcraft. II A witch and becoming a witch. iii The motives and mode of attack. iv The social implications of witchcraft. 5.4.2 Sorcery. 5.4.3 Evil Eye. 5.4.4 Curses. 5.5 Spirit Possession. 5.5.1 What is Spirit Possession? 5.5.2 The purpose of Spirit Possession. 5.5.3 The Type of People possessed. 5.5.4 Types of possession. i Forcible Possession. ii Invitation. 5.5.5 Possession on some special occasions. i Possession in times of sorrow ii Possession on specific occasions. III Possession by individuals with spiritual allies. 5.6 Conclusion. 5.7 Moral evil. 5.8 Warding off evil. 5.8.1 African Traditional Religion Versus Western Medicine. 5.8.2 African Traditional Religion and Natural Calamities. 5.8.3 Misfortune at Individual/Family Level. i Interpreting misfortune. ii The need for help. iii Forms of divination. iv The use of ordeals in divination. 5.9 Methods for Healing. i Treatment. ii Protection. iii Prevention. IV Purification. v Punitive Purposes. VI Exorcism. vii Eradication of witchcraft. viii Direct and Aggressive Measures. IX Retaliatory Medicine. x Physical Retribution. xi Resettlement. xii The Dead Suspected of being witches. 5.10 Summary on Misfortune and how it is handled. 5.11 Comparing and contrasting the world-vies of Mark and the world-view of African Traditional Religion. 5.12 General Conclusion. CHAPTER 6. CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN READINGS. Introduction. The Ghanaian Christians and their Leaders Socio-Economic Background of the church Leaders and Readers. The Educational and Professional Background of the Heads of Churches Brief Educational Experience of the reading groups Brief Description of the type of Employment of the reading groups. 6.2.5 Health Professionals in the reading groups. 6.2.6 Reasons for Choosing Ghanaian Christians. 6.3 The Passages for the Readings. 6.4 Structuring the Questions. 6.4.1 Reasons for Structuring the Questions. 6.5 Responses from the Readers. 6.5.1 The Readers Understanding of Causes of Diseases. i Possession. ii Deafness and Impediment in speech. iii Blindness. iv Epilepsy. v Bartimaeus' Blindness. 6.5.2 The Nature of Satan's Power. 6.5.3 What the Readers fear about Satan. 6.5.4 The Power of Demons. 6.5.5 The Power of Jesus. 6.6 The Binding of Satan. 6.6.1 What Readers do not fear about Satan. 6.7 Jesus' Power over Demons. 6.8 Summary Conclusions. 6.9 Spiritual Techniques Employed by Jesus in healing different diseases. 6.9.1 Possession. 6.9.2 Deafness and Impediment in Speech. I Jesus taking the man aside. ii Jesus putting His fingers into the man's ears. iii Jesus spitting and touching the tongue. IV Jesus looking up to heaven. v Jesus sighing. vi Jesus affirming, 'Be opened'. 6.9.3 Blindness. 6.9.4 Epilepsy. 6.9.5 Bartimaeus' Blindness. 6.10 Christian Discipleship in relation to evil and disease. 6.10.1 The Readers' views on the Disciples. 6.10.2 Ways of coping with Spirits and Disciples. i A voiding these spirits. ii Looking to Jesus. III The Spirits are strong. iv Bringing the sick to Jesus. v The Concept of we feeling. 6.10.3 The Readers' Responses (as disciples) to the curing Of the diseases of they were afflicted with them. I Possession. ii Deafness and Impediment in Speech. iii Blindness. iv Epilepsy. v Bartimaeus' Blindness. 6.11 The (a) causes and (b) cure of diseases and (c) spiritual techniques employed by Jesus - An analysis of the varied views of readers. A. Analysis of the Readers' responses on the causes of diseases. i Possession. II Deafness and impediment in Speech. iii Blindness. IV Epilepsy. V Bartimaeus' Blindness. B. Analysis of Readers varied responses on the cure of diseases. C. Analysis of the Readers' views on spiritual techniques employed by Jesus in healing different diseases. 6.12 The influence of traditional beliefs in Readers' views. 6.13 Consonance and Dissonance between the African views on Mark. 6.14 Questions raised by Readers which are not touched by Mark or in the Western readings. i Possession of Victims. ii Ways of coping with these spirits. iii Causes of Diseases. iv Cure of Diseases. v Techniques employed by Jesus. vi Graveyards. VII The Disciples' inability to cure the Epileptic Boy. 6.15 Conclusion. CHAPTER 7. CONCLUSION. 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 The Views of Mark. 7.2.1 The Nature of evil and affliction. 7.2.2 The Power of Satan and Jesus' struggle with Satan and demons. 7.3 The Contemporary views on Disease in general. 7.3.1 Markan views on Diseases and those of his contemporaries. 7.4 The Views of Western Scholars. 7.5 The Views of Ghanaian Christians. 7.5.1 The readers' views about the nature of evil and affliction. 7.5.2 Spirit possession. 7.5.3 The nature of Satan's power. 7.5.4 The nature of Jesus' power. 7.5.5 Spiritual techniques employed by Jesus. 7.5.6 The binding of Satan. 7.5.7 Things not to fear and to fear about Satan. 7.5.8 Coping with Spirits. 7.5.9 The disciples. 7.6 The strengths and the unanswered questions of Mark, the Western Scholars and the Ghanaian readers. 7.6.1 The strengths of Mark. 7.6.2 The unanswered questions of Mark. The strengths of the Western Scholars. i The Temptation of Jesus. ii Jesus' Encounter with demons. The unanswered questions of the Western Scholars. i No remark on concerns raised by Mark. ii Narrow View of Satan's power. The Strengths of the Ghanaian Readers. i Satan. ii Jesus' Power. iii Disease. iv Spiritual attacks and ways of coping with these spirits. The unanswered questions of the Ghanaian Readers. i Change in World-view. Ambiguities in all the readings. General Observation. Recommendations. BIBLIOGRAPHY. APPENDIX A. APPENDIX B.

Abstract

The Gospel of Mark is a moving story especially when one looks at the way Mark recounts Jesus' struggle with evil, the extent of the power and the fate of Satan and demons and the type of life the followers of Jesus are to lead: whether a demon-free life or a life of struggle with demons; and how scholars interpret Mark's views today. This thesis begins with a review of a debate between J.M. Robinson and E. Best who hold divergent views on Jesus' struggle with evil and the extent and the fate of Satan's power and demons in Mark. This is followed by a critical analysis of Mark's views on the baptism and the temptation narratives and Jesus' inauguration of the Kingdom in a world dominated by Satan and its implications. The review of Mark 3: 22-27 serves as a background to the section that examines Spirit Possession cases and the ways Jesus exorcises these demons in Mark, bringing to light Mark's views and the views of Western scholars. This is followed by categorising diseases into those caused by demons and those caused naturally and how Jesus exorcises and heals these diseases, demonstrating his power over evil. The section on Evil in African Traditional Religion focuses on the sources of evil and how evil is eradicated from the traditional African society. This is followed by a report of field research, which took the form of Bible Studies among Africans with the focus on Ghanaian Christians from twenty one churches in London. The purpose is to find out how these Christians whose world-view approximates that of Mark, read and interpret some texts in Mark. We were interested in what Ghanaian Christians would make of these texts because they might help us to see them as Mark's readers would have seen them, and to discover the issues and questions which they would have brought to the texts. The final section of the thesis brings together the views of Mark, Western scholars and Ghanaian Christians showing how these views complement each other. The thesis calls on Western scholars not only to guard against over-interpreting and forcing one cosmology on Mark (because of the diversity of views in Mark) but also to have an anthropological study of societies that believe in the activities of Satanic powers. African scholars in general need to take cognisance of the differences in African and the Markan world-views while African/Ghanaian Christians, in particular need to bear in mind that the spirit world of Mark was destined to be destroyed. It further calls on both Western and African scholars to do further research on the concerns raised by the Ghanaian readers, one of which is living in a world peopled by demons in the light of Christ's engagement with Satan.