My reaction is mouth agape horror. Not that demons are being exorcised, but how a man with an obvious strong personality - mesmeric even - can feed off and manipulate peoples' fears. I say that without questioning Mr Larsons sincerity and belief what he is doing is true and of help. But I do see it as everyone involved operating within a false consciousness, and Mr Larson being a force marshalling people to behave and respond within that the dynamic he is creating - whether he realises that himself of not.
Over here in the UK we have a TV and stage magician/psychology illusionist Derren Brown I’ve seen this guy on stage twice and will being seeing him again in London in June. Derren Brown’s trade is psychological manipulation and he is a debunker of all things spiritual. In the UK it is illegal to perform a séance on stage. I have seen Derren Brown perform what is to all intents and purposes a séance on stage, with moving tables and people told personal intimate details about themselves that “no one else could possibly know”. DB qualifies his act as being the product of stage craft, psychological manipulation, misdirection and dishonesty. So he gets away with it. He has also posed as a spiritualist, gives readings of people and other stuff besides. I don't think he has tackled exorcism yet - but I'd say it is well within his abilties to duplicate Bob Larson's performance.
I mention Derren Brown because I have absolutely no doubt that some people will be moved and deeply impressed by Bob Larson, and others of his ilk who deal in the side show performance element of religion. I have just said that Bob Larson marshals people to behave within a dynamic he is creating. I suspect those who would want to defend Bob Larson would respond by saying no one is being forced to do anything. That everyone is acting freely without duress or control. That the affect upon them was real. That they really felt something...and so on. For those who take the likes of Bob Larson seriously, I urge you to fire up your imagination, be open to what one human can impress on another and try and catch one of Derren Brown’s TV programmes or better still go see him live.
Anyhow - questions.
- Do you think Bob Larson and anyone who trades in public exorcisms, spiritualism, healings etc offer anymore that stagecraft, suggestion, force of will and psychology?
Do you think Derren Brown dabbles in things he does not understand?
Or - like me - do you think that anything that can be done by the likes of Bob Larson can be achieved by skilled and motivated performer like Brown.