The Exorcist Files - S2-Case #12-Awakened-Pt 1

Episode Date: September 18, 2024

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Do you crave more Exorcist Files content? Do you want to go deeper into theology and spiritual warfare? Well, you're going to want to subscribe to The Vault, our new premium subscriber program. The Vault is our way of ensuring we bring you content all year long. Subscribers will get access to exclusive once a month, Ask Me Anything episodes with Father Martins, where you can submit questions and vote on the ones you want him to answer most. You'll also get access to a very special case behind the case series,

where we relisten to past episodes and cases, and father reflects back on insights and anecdotes he just didn't have time to get into in the podcast. To subscribe, head on over to exorcistfiles.tv and sign up, or just click the link in the show notes. Again, that's exorcistfiles.tv to get access to the vault. People often forget that our adversary plays the long game. He's patient.

In fact, he has all the time in the world until he doesn't. The devil is also crafty. Just because he gains the rights to someone doesn't mean that he acts on them immediately. He may choose to hold on to those rights, ever so carefully, watching and waiting,

biding for the perfect move. And when he does strike, he does so at a time of his choosing, at a time that is optimal for him. Welcome back to the XVI. Exorcist files, a compelling cornucopia of covert concepts. As the prophet Obi-1 Kenobi once said, Don't trust your eyes. They can deceive you. In today's episode, we explore the peculiar case of Gloria and Paul, a young and happily married couple who decided to take a chance and leave behind

a full life of family and friends to embark on a journey towards greater financial and professional freedom. But like all stories worth telling, and journeys of this nature, Gloria and Paul discovered a bit more than they bargained for. Today we wrestle with some formidable spiritual riddles. Why are there things that affect you spiritually, but seemingly no one else? Does intent matter when it comes to the violation of God's laws? This and so much more awaits you. As always, the names, some places, and the details of this case have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved. So, now hopefully in the comfort and privacy of your own cozy listening environment, put your hands together for our resident demon disciplinarian, the priest with the dramatic and theologically

narrative feast, Father Carlos Martins. It's a common question I deeply empathize with. Why is the suffering some folks endure so extraordinary? For example, why does one person end up severely demonized after using a Ouija board just once, while another who has used it for years is left unbothered by the devil? It doesn't seem fair, does it? I've often used the door analogy to help explain why this is the case. You can leave your house door open all night,

and perhaps no pest comes inside, save for a few flies or mosquitoes, annoyances that you can get rid of easily enough. However, what if a raccoon strolls in, and after looking around and snacking in your well-stock kitchen, decides that your house would make the perfect summer home? Now, try and get that raccoon out of his summer home. Have you ever faced off with a cornered and threatened raccoon? They are vicious.

But because raccoons are social animals, they hang together. When one raccoon finds a jackpot somewhere, he invites his family and friends to partake. With multiple raccoons in your home, the fight to get them out is much worse than if you had just one. The intelligent but vicious nature of raccoons and their relentless ability to be a past is why I like to use them as an analogy for demons. Do you know what a pack of raccoons is called? A gaze. A weird name for a grouping, don't you think?

It comes from the fact that when you shine a light on them at night, and raccoons are nocturnal by nature, they gaze back at you with intensely reflective eyes. By nature, raccoons gaze. Doors are great. They let good things in, and they keep bad things out. Keep an open door unguarded, and you don't know what might walk through it. When it comes to the spiritual realm, the dangers can be much greater than in the physical.

You want to keep every door to demons closed. Victims of demonic possession have often said to me, I know so many others who did the same dysfunctional thing I did, and they are fine. No demons latched on to them. Why did they stick to me? But my response is, not so fast. How do you know they're fine? I can purchase a house in safe Florida, and I can let a year go by and never use it.

I can let two years go by, or even ten or thirty years go by. The point is, the home is mine. I choose when I want to use it or not. That's the benefit of ownership. I have the right to do what I want with it when I want to do it. And I can personally attest to the ferocious and demonic nature of these nocturnal pests, as I once battled a gaze of raccoons in my garage with my friend Sammy and Trey, a date we will never forget.

July 5th, the day of raccoon vengeance, as it's known in my house. I was cleaning my garage after a party and I heard my dog barking. We suddenly heard a hiss and a shaking in a cupboard. We shined a light into the cupboard and were met with, well, you guessed it, a gaze. In fact, one might say we were gazed and confused. Okay, now that we've covered raccoons and demonic rights, let's get back to the story, shall we? Glory and Paul were a young couple in their early 30s. They were the kind of people you would never expect to have demonic issues.

They were practicing Catholics who regularly attended church and lived morally upright lives. They were an energetic and attractive couple who liked people and seemed always to have room for more close friends in their lives. They were that couple whom everyone loved. Not only were they the life of the party, but they also had the gift of hospitality. Everyone always felt welcome in their home. Each had a great sense of humor, but Gloria in particular, particular was very funny. She had a beaming comical personality, like my co-host Ryan, but sharper, wittier, and fewer dad jokes. Wow. Thanks, father. Ryan, you had your turn. I'm doing

the storytelling. Paul was an executive at a large software company, and Gloria was a sales rep at a high-end department store. The kind that priests like myself have very little experience visiting. Most of our outfits are already picked out. They had lived on the East Coast their entire lives and were part of a vibrant church community. They hosted a small group in their home and were very close to Father David, a quirky and fun older priest who was like family. They also lived close to their families. Though they had been married for two years, they had no children, but were trying to start a family.

Paul had been approached by a startup company that offered him incredible money to come work them. It was a huge professional opportunity, one that could be a game changer for Paul's career. The trade-off, however, was that he would need to relocate to the West Coast. While the move meant leaving so much behind, they decided that the opportunity was too good to pass up. I met Gloria and Paul a few months after their move. They were still adjusting and hadn't quite found a church yet. However, Paul had made friends with some of his coworkers, and Glouye and Gloria had become close with her neighbor Vivian and some of her friends. They often hosted each other and played parlor games.

We got this. Oh, you are never going to get those. Oh, stop. I own this game. I know all. I see all. You're getting a glimpse into our marriage now. Shut up. Love you. Oh, love you. Okay, here we go. Animal, bear.

D. T-Rex. She's breathing fire, huh? T-Rex doesn't breathe fire. Okay, um, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. Reset, hold, one word, one syllable, um, okay, prayer. Bible, uh, Bible, Bible, Bible, dinosaur, Noah. Noah, Noah, Noah, Noah's, Noah, no, Noah's, noah's ark. There were no dinosaurs on the ark. Um, um, relay, Jesus, God, God, God, God of fire, revelation, revelation, revelation.

Okay, God of fire. It was Godzilla. That was the fire that comes out of his mouth. Oh, okay. Wait, wait, hold on. Does Godzilla breathe fire? Yes, Gloria. Everyone knows Godzilla breathes fire.

Actually, friends, it's atomic breath. I just want to be clear. Oh, shut up on you. I am not a Godzilla expert. Like, fortunately, the department store chain that Gloria worked at had a location in their new city, and she was able to.

the transfer. She was an extrovert who loved her sales job because she could interact with customers, meet new people, and her personality made her what they call a natural closer on a sale. As a commissioned sales rep, she did very well. Thank you. See you next time. Bye. Have a good day. Hi. Are you, Gloria? That's me, right here on the old name tag. And who here has the... honor of checking out at my register. Hi, uh, name's Todd. Um, so my boss came in here a week ago and said you completely fixed his wardrobe. Hmm, oh, was it Mr. Krause? Yeah, uh, you know,

some have called you a miracle worker. Everyone has been complimenting him. You know, I, I figured maybe I could get some help too. I think we can help. Let's see what we are working with here, hmm? Probably way too much. Have you ever heard every girl crazy about it? Sharp dress, man. Okay, like this jacket. But don't love. We have some new ones coming in next month.

Come back and see me for that. But, oh, hold still. Definitely get these shirts today. Wait, all of them? Yes, Todd. There's a reason I have seven pairs of the same workout pants. When it works, it works. Now please, hit me your credit card, and let's have you join the elite group of the impeccably dressed.

Gloria was also an avid fitness enthusiast. Some years ago, she suffered a back injury in a skiing accident, and the recovery had been a huge motivation for her to get in shape. Her physical therapist put her on a rigorous workout regimen, and she loved weights and resistance training. While she had improved considerably, her back remained a thorn in her side that regularly brought her pain. One morning after their game night, Gloria was walking into the gym where she worked out, when she ran into Vivian, who was coming out of a class in the yoga studio next door. Oh, well, look who it is, Miss Noah's Ark. Oh, that was so fun.

Oh, you're so bad at that game. I love it. Are you just starting? Yeah. Oh, it's this I see, a yoga mat? Yes. Look at you. How enlightened? How long has this place been opened?

A couple months or so, actually. Have you ever tried it? Oh, no. You don't want me bending like that. I probably can't do any of those poses you all do anyway. No, no, it's super chill. It's totally fine for beginners, and we have a fun little crew who does it. We do class on Sundays, too.

You should come. You know, my doctor back east actually recognized. recommended it for my back. Said it might help, but... Perfect. I don't know. Isn't it all new 80 and like all that woo-woo spiritual? Woo-woo?

Yeah, there's some of that, but the teacher's really good. I just do it for the stretching and the breathing, you know. Come on, we can put you in the back of the class, so no one has to look at you ever. You're coming, and you'll sit in with our crew perfectly. Vivian, have you been seeing a... other friends? Gloria, you know, one day, and may this day come soon, I won't be available to hang out with you, and I need to know that you have other friends who can put up with you. Fine. Let's yoga. Yes, girl, yes. With Gloria embarking on her yoga journey, I thought we'd take a minute to learn

a bit more about this ancient practice that is so popular, both as a form of exercise and as a vehicle for meditation. Today, yoga studios can sometimes market their classes by claiming to teach ancient spiritual wisdom. This can be a little misleading, though. In the same way that it would be misleading to call Taco Bell authentic Mexican food, Taco Bell does serve tacos, which did originate in Mexico, but they have altered and commercialized their food to such an extent that it only bears a tangential relationship with its traditional roots. Similarly, yoga, as it is commonly practiced in modern Western culture today is a relatively new phenomenon. If you took a time machine back to any point before the 1920s, you would not find studios full of flexible

matcha drinkers doing carefully choreographed stretching postures on roll-up mats. For the vast majority of yoga's thousands of years of history, stretching has been a much smaller part of a bigger and wider set of meditative disciplines in Eastern spiritual doctrines. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit verb, Yuge, which means yoke or union. From possibly as far back as 1200 BC, various South Asian mystics have employed these disciplines to withdraw their senses from the world and connect with the divine. The earliest known reference to yoga is found in an ancient text, the Katha Apanishad, from a tradition today known as Hinduism. It contains meditations from the Atman, or the true self. In chapter 1, section 2, verse 12, it reads, he, the Atman, difficult to be seen,

full of mystery, the ancient primeval one, concealed deep within. He who by yoga means of meditation on his self- comprehends Atman with him as God, he leaves joy and sorrow far behind. In the middle ages, a school of yoga called Hatha Yoga began to take shape. Here, postures known as as asanas began to take on a larger role, but they were one part of a broader constellation of meditation and spiritual practices. One of the main goals of many of these practices is to attain a type of mystical experience known as the Kundalini Awakening. Kundalini is said to be a divine feminine energy coiled at the base of the spine. Through the practice of yoga, this energy rises through the body along the spine to the top of the head. This is said to lead to profound enlightenment, liberation, or bliss.

Yoga emerged as an exercise-centric practice during British colonial rule, various popularizers of Hindu spirituality, such as Swami Vivekhananda and Paramahansa Yogananda, capitalized in Western curiosity about Eastern spirituality and exploding enthusiasm for physical fitness, driven by organizations like the YMCA. But many of India's yoga traditions actually do share a religious goal that could be argued as attaining human salvation, variously defined as a release from suffering existence and the cycle of rebirths, samsara, union with the ultimate reality, realizing the true self, which is divine or spending eternity in relationship with the divine.

The bottom line is that historically, yoga is far more about spirituality than stretching. The following Sunday, Gloria attended her first yoga class. Vivian introduced her to her group of girlfriends that did it together, and there was an instant camaraderie among them. Vivian was correct. It was very casual. She noticed that the instructor wove spiritual language into the class, but she felt able to ignore it.

All in all, Gloria had a pleasant time and felt it had a therapeutic effect on her back, which felt looser and more flexible than it had in a long time. And breathe in, breathe out, focus on bringing the energy up, come to a seated position. Let's bring our hands to our heart. Now your chin to your chest, bow slowly,

in honor of the time spent together. The spirit in me, acknowledges the spirit in you. Namaste. You know, namaste. Hippie, dippy, but not, you know. Good, excellent.

I'm a little sweaty. So, what did we think? You know, I didn't hate it. And I, dare say, I feel pretty good. My back is feeling pretty loose. See, I told you. I feel like I am literally tipping over on half of these, though. But don't wait.

It takes time. You'll get it. You should have seen my first time through the sun's salutation. I'm pretty sure the sun was like, yo, Vivian, stop. Maybe that's why we get eclipsy. Okay, okay. Now, this is very important. There is a ritual you have to do post yoga to ensure maximum therapeutic benefits. Oh, what? Ron! See, I knew yoga was right for me. I also wanted to take a minute and just look at the health data on yoga. I think to be fair, we need to acknowledge that lots of people practice yoga for the health benefits

and are not actively seeking a new religion. And there are some health benefits to be sure. Articles promoting the health benefits of yoga will often feature an impressive footnote section, linking to numerous scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals. This gives many the impression that the claimed health benefits of yoga enjoy overwhelming scientific support. And while yoga can have health benefits, so do almost all forms of exercise. With yoga, the evidence, though, often isn't as watertight as it seems at first glance.

In one meta-analysis of over 486 studies from 217 journals, the study authors cautioned that more high-quality evidence-based research is needed. Additionally, a 2019 meta-analysis by Josephine Breedvelt and her colleagues noted that, quote, most studies were of poor quality and the results should be interpreted with caution. You will find caveats like this throughout the literature. because yoga studies are often limited by small sample sizes, some of poor study designs, and unaccounted for biases. By the time all of these are sorted out, the laundry list of benefits gets a little more modest. As with any health trend, the headlines will make a bold definitive

claim, but the actual studies they link to don't quite communicate the same. And even if the health benefits were undeniably better than anything else, we do have to remember that health benefits are not what determine whether something is acceptable to God. Gloria, as she always did, quickly made new friends. The move to the West Coast had been tough on her and Paul. But now that they had a growing group of friends, it was beginning to feel like home. While yoga classes were held each day, Gloria's new girlfriends all went on Sunday mornings. Eventually it turned into a routine.

Sunday morning yoga with the girls for Gloria. while Paul went golfing with a co-worker. They had attended a few different churches since moving, but none of them ever felt like their old parish, and they rationalized that building friendships and getting in exercise were also very important. Besides, they told themselves, skipping church would be just for a season,

just until they were settled. Before long, however, church became the furthest thing in their minds. We all get busy, we all get distracted. I have seen very strong Christians in a relatively short span start moving away from God with disturbing speed. Our relationship with God must be protected and nurtured. We must carve out time to spend with him. One need only look at the Israelites in the desert within the Book of Exodus.

They walk through the parted sea, the most astounding wonder. And a couple of chapters later, they are wondering where God is. Christian, you better believe that this can happen to you. Friends and community are good, exercise is good, a lucrative new job opportunity is good. But communion with God, communion as he defines it, is the supreme good.

If Paul and Gloria had just picked a parish church and invested in it without foolishly looking for one that was just like their old one, they would have also made friends there too, and been spiritually better off. With a sudden awareness that the season of Lent was drawn near, Paul and Gloria resolved to go to church. Their absence from Sunday worship had been too long,

and they committed themselves to attend Mass beginning from the first Sunday of Lent. When the day came, they had a quick breakfast and headed to Mass at a nearby church. Okay, let's miss here. You okay? Yeah, I just... My head is killing me. Ever since we left, my head is just throbbing. Oh, no.

Do you need me to get you some Advil? I think I got some of the glove compartment over here. Wait, you keep Advil in your car? Babe, in your mid-30s, you do not leave home without Advil. That's true. Thanks. Ah, here we go. A spot. Thank you, Lord.

Man, this place is packed. Paul found a parking spot. But just as glory. Maria began to open her car door and get out, her head began pounding. She looked pale and unwell. I feel sick, babe, I'm sorry. I can... I don't think I can go in. Are you sure? I mean, we're here.

I can't. I really... I just... I feel sick. And my head... Hey, hey, it's okay. It's okay. Let's get you back in the car, okay? Okay. Hey, do you need me to take you to the doctor? doctor? No, no, I think I just ate something. Maybe it's food poisoning. Let's just go home. Of course, of course. Here, have some water. They figured it must be some sort of bug or something she ate, so they drove home.

Interestingly, by the time they got home, Gloria's headache had improved substantially, which she attributed to the medication. Shortly afterwards, she resumed her normal activities as if nothing had happened. For those not familiar with the Christian tradition, Lent is a solemn observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. This period is marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving,

and serves as a preparation for holy week. Initially, Lent was a time for preparing new converts for baptism, which would take place during the Easter vigil. Over time, however, it evolved into a pre-peration of a period. period of penance and reflection for all Christians. The practice of fasting during Lent varies, but it traditionally involves giving up certain foods and luxuries as a form of spiritual discipline. It is preceded by Shrove or Fat Tuesday, where people enjoy rich food and celebration before beginning the period of fasting and penance. Lent culminates in Holy Week, the most sacred week

in the Christian calendar. It includes significant events such as Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Holy Thursday, which marks the last suburb where Catholics believe Christ instituted the priesthood and the Eucharist. Good Friday, the day of our Lord's crucifixion and death, and finally Easter Sunday, celebrating his resurrection. Paul and Gloria shook off the experience and resolved to try again next Sunday. The week began as normal, but Paul noticed in Gloria an increasingly strange set of changes. Amen. Father Martin's here. I want to do a quick plug for one of the most powerful tools I've seen for breaking free and growing closer to Christ. Exodus 90. The Exodus 90 challenge begins this year on January 20th. But this isn't just a 90-day program.

Exodus 90 is a spirituality for modern men that is built on three ancient pillars, prayer, self-sacrifice, and fraternity. We all long for something more. We long to be the men God created us to be, sons of a loving father. It's time to turn away from our idols. It's time to break free from the pharaohs that hold us in bondage. If you're ready to make a fresh start and embark on a journey to uncommon freedom in Jesus Christ, then download the Exodus 90 app today. This is your chance to break free, refocus, and rediscovering who God is calling you to be in the new year. It starts January 20th. So go to Exodus 90.com slash X-Files to learn more about Exodus 90.

That's Exodus 90.com slash X-Files to join tens of thousands of men from all over the world for Exodus 90. Again, it begins Monday, January 20th. God bless you. Paul began noticing some subtle changes in his wife. The kind of observations only somebody who really knew her could pick up. Gloria, hey, babe, can you come sign this card for Kalyn? Please need to mail this out today. Aw, Kalyn.

Gosh, I miss her. That's right. Her birthday's next week. What did you get her? 50 bucks. Cash? Really, Paul? She's your niece, not your catty.

What? This way she can get whatever she wants. You know how hard it is to shop for a nine-year-old plus? 50 bucks. I mean, for a nine-year-old, this is like crazy money. Give me that. Man, when will I want you learn? You better, by the way, never get me cash.

Only Starbucks cards for you, my love. There you go. Paul picked up the card to put the $50 bill in it when something caught his eye. Gloria had, for as long as he had known her, signed her name by doing a smiley face over the lowercase eye in her name. It was one of the many quirks he loved about her.

When he saw the card, he noticed she hadn't done that. He shrugged it off and didn't think much of it. It's only a signature on a card after all, he thought. Maybe she was distracted. Who cares anyway? One week later, he noticed another small and peculiar change. Gloria was fairly liturgical in her coffee consumption. Each morning she awoke, poured her cup, and sat in her chair with a book,

sipping her coffee with her right hand. Paul noticed that she was now holding her cup in her left hand. It was a small thing, but when he asked her about it, she looked at him puzzled, like she was unaware in which hand she always held her mug. but then there were also less subtle changes. With each passing week, Paul noticed that Gloria was less exuberant and more subdued. She was also fidgety. When they'd watched TV, he could feel her leg shaking and moving up and down with nervous energy.

Gloria had been known for her enthusiastic greetings when she answered the phone. Now when she answered, her greeting was a somber and flat, hey. Paul diplomatically asked her if anything was wrong, and she politely responded that all was fine. And we know what fine means, right? Who hasn't had an off day, week or even month? Father would be the first to say that up to this point, none of this necessarily indicates the demonic.

But it is worth noting that stress or fatigue can influence our hand signatures. There are also potential neurological issues, but these seem less likely, given that she was in fine health other than her back issues. At this point, the most likely culprit seems to be that Gloria was probably experiencing initial symptoms of some sort of depression or a mood disorder. A week went by and then another. Each Sunday they planned on going to church, but each time something came up that prevented it. A coworker or client invited Paul to golf, and he justified

it as business development. Gloria also found it difficult to pass up her Sunday yoga routine with the girls, which she had grown to enjoy. Paul grew increasingly concerned with the changes he was seeing in Gloria. But each time he broached the subject, she denied that anything was amiss. Then finally, something happened at work that opened Gloria's eyes to the reality that she was different. Thank you. Have a nice day. Gloria, my personal stylist. How you doing? Hi. It's Todd. I was in a while back. I finally came back for the jackets. Said you had some stuff coming in? Oh, yeah, right.

They got it in. This is it. All right. Let me try it on. Uh, yeah, you were right. As always, it looks great. It's great. What do you think?

It looks fine, I guess. Fine, you guess. Okay. Um, I can look at something else. Do you have any other jackets you recommend? You know, I was thinking of getting a few different colors. getting a few different colors. You know, like you mentioned before, finding something that

just fits this really good. No, not really. I mean, they're all essentially the same thing. I mean, they're just clothes, just pieces of cloth that we charge a fortune for. So, I mean, who cares? It's just fabric. It's just fabric that you're going to use

and make yourself feel better about yourself. I think I'm just going to leave these here for you. And thanks. I'll see you with it. Okay.

Bye. Gloria was filled with an inexplicable apathy and her usual passion for her job, the reservoir of energy and love she felt for customers, and the desire to help them look their best, was inaccessible. It was a strange sensation that she described as being locked out. Gloria's manager was folding shirts nearby

and witnessed the interaction. She was stunned. After the man left, she called Gloria into the break room. Gloria, would you please step into my office? A word, please? Of course. What the hell was that? That customer was practically begging to buy from you. Why didn't you tell him the jacket looked great on him? It actually did. That guy was gorgeous. Yeah. You're right. I'm sorry.

Gloria, what's gotten into you? Are you okay? I'm just feeling a little blah lately. It's... hard to describe, I just don't feel like myself. Is it Paul? Like, are things okay at home? No, no, it's nothing like that. Look, why don't you take the rest of the day off, go get a massage or something? I need my clothes door. Clear your head. Yeah, of course.

Thanks, Mel. Oh, and Gloria? Yeah. If a man that good-looking ever comes in again asking for fashion, please send him to my office immediately. Yes, ma'am. Never had Gloria lacked charm and words around people, and the realization that they were gone had her on edge.

This wasn't just a flub or an off day. This was akin to a professional quarterback suddenly not knowing how to throw a ball. The experience shook her. She thought about what Paul had said and understood this was her wake-up call. Something was off, and she had to discover why. She had been attending the yoga class for some time and had grown to admire the instructor.

While she had started the class just for exercise and camaraderie, over time she began to appreciate some of the spiritual insights that the instructor offered in their meetings. Her focus on gratitude in particular was much appreciated by Gloria. Gloria figured that the instructor, who seemed to be spiritually wise, would be a good person to speak with about what was happening. To be clear, she was in no way convinced that yoga was the culprit in the work incident or with her lack of personal zeal. But in the back of her mind, she wondered whether they might be connected.

Her instructor had often spoken of yoga's poses as a way to awaken an unseen energy and force within oneself in pursuit of an awakening. While such a reality seemed far-fetched to Gloria, she figured it was worth a conversation. After the class, Gloria approached the instructor, who by now was very friendly with her. Hey, you have a minute? Gloria, hi, of course. Hey, great job in class today. How's your back?

Oh, gosh. I have to say, you are coming along great in class. Honestly, like, my back feels better than it has in years. Truly, I can't believe I waited this long to do this. I love that. What's on your mind? Um, okay, so just to be totally honest, I've always found, like, the whole yoga, chakra kind of thing, you know? Ridiculous?

I'm your word, but... Okay, so, I had something happen at work, and I... I just, I totally botched a conversation with a customer, which I never do. Like, I... Hmm. I went numb and they actually walked out of the store. It was this whole thing, but I, um, I don't know. I just, I felt detached.

And, and I guess that, I guess I'm asking you. You're wondering if it's the yoga. Yeah. Now, now that I hear myself saying it out loud, I totally understand that it sounds crazy. You're not crazy, Gloria. No, of course not. Because it's not just stretching. I mean, what we do here, it should change you.

We're not just trying to bring our bodies into alignment. We are really trying to get our spirits into alignment. To tap into this beautiful ancient practice that has been handed down. And these poses in some mysterious way do that. They unite us with God. Sorry, with God? God. God, Cosmos, the universe, whatever you want to call it.

I've learned you can't label something as magnificent and infinite as God. But I do know, the more you develop spiritually, the more you will see changes in your life in unexpected ways. Okay. So the yoga instructor shared some thoughts that on the surface do seem to have some merit. Who are we as mere mortals to try and define or reduce down to a human explanation? something as infinite and vast as God. Could God just be another name or label that we give to that clear connecting force of existence that even the most ardent atheist might concede as a reality?

Clearly, there is something that binds us together as residents of this crazy and mysterious universe, right? But the very idea that God is too big to understand presents some philosophical challenges. To know that God is too big to define by one label is to claim to know how to be able to be able to to define God or to have knowledge of him to begin with. It's the same issue we run into if we are to say that all religions have some element of truth in them. While this sounds reasonable on the surface, if I said all religions have some morsel of truth in them, someone could rightly ask, hey, Ryan, how do you know what elements are true or false about these religions? How come you get to judge the religions? I, of course, can't unless I have the entire truth. So the next time

someone says, oh, all religions have part of the truth, be sure to ask them how they know that. Finally, one of the most amazing things about Christianity is that God does let himself be known through his son, Jesus Christ. Christianity teaches that God became man and left a really interesting revelation about him with some very specific observations. Anyway, now let's let father comment on all this. Most Christians who practice yoga regarded as a form of exercise and a means to reduce stress and improve strength and muscle flexibility. Some people have found great benefits from it, pointing out that it helped them lose excess weight and feel better about themselves.

I acknowledge that many have found yoga beneficial. Therefore, I do not say this lightly. My opposition to yoga is rooted, not just in theological reasons, but also in my experience as an exorcist. One of the main tenets of yoga is that the person who practices it, the universe, and God all become one. But Christianity teaches that physical reality and God cannot be one. One is creator, the other is creature. And although Christianity believes that holiness essentially consists of having more of God within us, a term that Orthodox Christians

beautifully call divinization, Christians do not believe that we literally become God. Though we come to share in His divinity, in his very life, we retain our identity as holy other than God and vice versa. The philosophy that underlies yoga teaches that humans can have it all. Humans can have the experience of God's loving presence and even sense His Holy Spirit. However, this is possible because there is no fundamental difference between God and humanity, since people share the same life-giving energy that is God. In yoga, God is not a literal being, but is an impersonal energy

that is indistinct from the rest of physical reality. This is heresy number one, pantheism. The denial that the creator is separate from and superior to created beings. Heresy number two quickly follows. If there is no fundamental difference between creator and creation, then that means I am God, and the more that I am able to focus on my proper identity as God

facilitated through the practice of yoga, the more of God I become. However, God's first commandment is a demand for exclusivity. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me. That commandment is violated when we overtly seek other gods, when we dabble in the occult, seek out mediums and psychics. But it is also violated when we elevate ourselves to the level of God,

an identity we were never to possess. Any practice that purports to awaken the divinity within us or to tap into our, quote, inner God is against God's will. Ironically, humans do carry a divine spark. We are all made in God's image. Baptized Christians who remain in the state of grace are vessels of God's Holy Spirit. It is correct to say that God dwells within us, but it is incorrect to say that we are gods to be awakened.

We are creatures created to serve the one true God, and it is impossible to become Him. Lucifer thought that he could become God, and look where he ended up. Ironically, it was with the lie that humans will become like God that he tempted Adam and Eve to sin. The question before us now is, can the physical practice of yoga be separated from the theological and philosophical foundations behind it? In other words, can a Christian simply engage in the poses of yoga without subscribing or even being aware of its spiritual underpinnings? As an exorcist, my answer is a resounding no.

The postures within yoga are, by their very nature, religious acts. One can practice yoga with the purest intentions, seeking nothing other than its physical benefits. But by definition, yoga's postures possess a spiritual purpose. To engage in them is to open a door to the spiritual realm. And you cannot control what kind of spiritual raccoon might decide to walk through that door. Gloria went to her yoga instructor to try to get some light shed on her behavioral changes that both she and Paul were noticing. Some of the instructor's words resonated. She began to question her previous religious orientation and experiences.

She wondered whether she actually believed what she thought she believed. Her parents are Christians, and they raised her to be Christian, so that is what she was. Her church community growing up and the church congregation she attended after marrying pole were the only communities she had ever known. But maybe there was more. Maybe she was missing out. On that note, there is some evidence that yoga, is linked to changing religious beliefs.

Candy Gunther Brown is a professor of religious studies at Indiana University, with a PhD from Harvard University. Dr. Brown has studied how yoga changes people's religious beliefs. She made the surprising discovery that intentions matter relatively little. The longer and more often people do yoga, even of the YMCA stretching variety or styles marketed as, quote, Christian yoga, the more likely they are to change their religious beliefs. People start off in intending just to exercise, but over time, they pick up traditional yoga spiritual beliefs. Even Christian yoga programs borrow ideas from the religions such as Hinduism or Buddhism. Research studies show that the longer Christians do yoga, the more likely they are to start

identifying with another religion, such as Buddhism. You can learn more about yoga from two of Dr. Brown's books, The Healing Gods, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Christian America, and debating yoga and mindfulness in public schools, reforming secular education, or reestablishing religion. Okay, let's head back to the story. We've made you wait long enough. It was Palm Sunday, and Paul was adamant that they go to church. He awoke early and went downstairs to make coffee. When Gloria was delayed in coming down, he went upstairs to check on her. She was still asleep, and they had to leave in 30 minutes to make it in time for Mass. Rise and shine. Come on, sleepy head. Babe, I'm so tired. And I have the cure, my love. Here.

Here, baby, you feeling okay? Are you sick again? No, not sick. It's just, like, my limbs feel so heavy. Like I'm covered in bricks. I'm gonna just go without me. I just want me to sleep a little bit more. I'm not gonna leave you here.

Come on, are you sure? Yeah, I'm sure. I'm fine. She instantly fell back asleep. Worried, Paul decided to stay home. Between the changes in her behavior, the incident at work, and her illnesses, something was happening and he knew it. In his mind, Paul went through the possibilities of what might be happening with Gloria.

This year, they moved to a new state and began new jobs, leaving behind their family's friends and church community. That's one massive uprooting. Any of these, he thought, is tough to go through. but going through all of them at once is pretty traumatic. Paul thought it would be good to call Father David, a dear family friend, and someone who had been a major spiritual influence in their lives.

Father David always had a calm and helpful voice. Paul's decision to call him was a concession on his part to the growing guilt he felt about his and Gloria's disconnection with the church. In the last several months, they had only been to church a handful of times, and it was now Palm Sunday, and even today they weren't going. Paul sat in the living room mulling over what he would say to Father David and reading the scripture readings for the day.

About an hour went by when he heard Gloria come down the stairs. She had slept for an extra hour, and just as on the previous Sunday, was now unbothered by the fatigue and lethargy that had assailed her just one hour ago. Paul asked how she was feeling. great was her response. She seemed completely recovered as if nothing had been wrong with her. While Gloria was at work the next day, Paul called Father David.

Yeah, yeah, how are you doing, Father? Is the church surviving without us? I'm still sending in my coins. Actually, to be honest, we haven't had a church out here yet. We tried twice, but both times Gloria got sick. I'm sorry to hear that. Yeah, yeah, she's fine, I think. I mean, that's part of the way I'm calling.

I'm just, I'm a little worried about her. She's been acting off, you know, some issues at work. Really anxious. She went through it. Yeah, you're right. You'll watch the queen. Actually, that's probably the one bright spot for Gloria, at least. She met this great group of gals, really nice.

They all do this yoga class together. She loves it. Oh, she's doing yoga. Yeah. Yeah, she's really gotten into it. It goes like three times a week. It says her back feels better. She sucked.

but I mean the thing is about... Paul, Paul, I'm so sorry. Yeah, sure. I'm sure she'd love that. Take care, Father. A few days later, Paul and Gloria were sitting in the living room watching TV after dinner when Paul's phone buzzed with a new voicemail notification. He picked up the phone and realized he had a missed call from Father David. He listened for a few seconds, and realizing the message was for both of them,

played it on the speakerphone so Gloria could hear it too. Oh, babe, you love this. A little surprise for you. Oh, Father Dave. You know, that's awesome. He knows as well. Or praying all. Yeah, he's got the jokes. I'm praying for you both.

We miss you out here. A verse popped into rejoicing the Lord. And I will say rejoice and be anxious over nothing. But in everything with prayer and thanksgiving, let your request be known to God. Which surpasses all understanding. We'll guard your hearts and minds. What? What do you mean?

Anyway, that's all I got. Okay, he's back. I just hope it blesses you. Oh, no. See you soon. Take care. What? It, uh, it cut out. Um, babe, what are you talking about?

The Bible verse, his receptionist of draft or something. Huh? He's reading Philippians 4. No, he said he would, but I mean, it's, but the verse, it's like, cut out. He did? I mean, what are you talking about? Oh, stop. That's not funny.

Gloria could not hear the verse. It was like someone hit the mute button as Father David was reading the scripture. And then as soon as he finished reading the verse, she could hear him just fine. Paul played the message again with the same result. You're seriously telling me you can't hear this. No, I can't. I swear this isn't a joke. In a bit of a frenzy, Gloria asked Paul to repeat.

the words himself. Babe, what's wrong with me? Okay, so you're saying that you can't, you can't hear the words. Rejoice in the Lord always. I'll say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. Paul, I can't hear you say it either. Gloria saw the lips on Paul's mouth move, but no words sounded out.

Paul tried reading other verses from his Bible app, and each time Gloria could hear nothing. It was like being in space. She could hear every other word he said, but any scripture was instantly muted. Suddenly, she grabbed Paul's phone to try something else. Here, give me that. I can't even type on this damn thing. It won't, it won't load.

Let me see, let me see. Okay, it's working fine. No, it's just, it's white space. Okay. I feel like I can breathe. Okay, okay, just relax, relax, honey. Breathe, okay, it's okay. Just look at me, look at me.

It's okay. It's okay. What's wrong with me? Simply trying to open the app on her phone was excruciating. She described it as just blurring out. It was a white screen. She could read other things. She could read text messages.

She could read what was on the browser. But all scripture references came through as empty white space. Unfortunately, dear listeners, it's now our turn to go silent on you. What will befall are biblically hard of hearing heroin? you'll have to tune in next week for part two of the awakening. Of course, I'd like to leave us with a scripture thought, though. Ephesians 4 reads, wait, did you not hear that? Uh-oh.

Okay, I'm just kidding. Sorry, I had to do that in lieu of a dad joke. Talk to you soon, folks. To keep in touch with us, or join our Exorcist Files Premium subscriber program, you can visitexercistfiles.tv. Our premium subscription gives you exclusive access to bonus episodes, like The Case Behind the Case Series, where Father revisits our case files and shares what we didn't have time to in the originals and answers your questions about his most notorious cases. Just head over to ExorcistFiles.TV, and you can sign up there to support our work. We really appreciate it.

You can also email us absurd and overly specific criticisms at ExorcistFiles at gmail.com. All cases are recounted by Father Carlos Martins from his personal archives. The role of Gloria was played by Laura Long, Father David by Gary Ler. Lawrence, Vivian by Mariah Thompson, Paul by Jared LaMaster, and the yoga instructor by Melissa Hunt, the boss by Alexis Moller, and the offended customer by Micah Conrad. It takes a legion of people to make this show possible. So thank you sound designers, editors and mixers, Dan Blesinger, and Michelle Martinez, music and scoring by James Cavell and Tom Strayley. Script was written by Ryan Bethay and Father Carlos Martins. The episode also featured script doctoring and assistance

from Paul Leach, research from John Brundage, executive producers, our father Martins, and Ryan Bethay. We also want to thank Dr. Candy Brown for sharing her research and insights for this episode. And as promised, a very special thank you to Jean Carlo, Dr. David DeSuzza, Dr. Subra Mahapta, and Evan Loomis for helping make this show possible. We also want to give a huge shout-out to the Million Mile Medallion members. Basically, we also want to give a huge shout-out to all our Kickstarter supporters. Thank you so much for helping make this season possible.

See you soon.