Demonic Foes
My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal
By Richard Gallagher | Publisher: HarperCollins
About the book
The world’s leading psychiatric authority on demonic possession delves into the hidden world of exorcisms and his own transformation from cynic to believer over the course of his twenty-five-year career.
Successful New York psychiatrist Richard Gallagher was skeptical yet intrigued when a hard-nosed, no-nonsense Catholic priest asked him to examine a woman for a possible exorcism. Meeting her, Gallagher was astonished. The woman’s behavior, a display of true paranormal ability, defied logic. In an instant, she could pinpoint a person’s secret weaknesses. She knew how individuals she’d never known had died, including Gallagher’s own mother, who passed away after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. She spoke fluently in multiple languages, including Latin—but only when she was in a trance.
This was not psychosis, Gallagher concluded. It was, in his scientific estimation, what could only be describe as paranormal ability. The woman wasn’t mentally disturbed—she was possessed. This remarkable case was the first of many that Gallagher would encounter. Sought after today by leaders of all faiths—ministers, priests, rabbis and imams, Gallagher has spent a quarter-century studying diabolic attacks and exorcisms throughout history and has witnessed more cases than any other psychiatrist in the world today.
In this eerie and enthralling collection of psychiatrist’s personal accounts, Gallagher chronicles his most famous cases for the first time, including:
- A professional who claimed her spiritualist mother had “assigned” her a spirit who “turned on her.”
- A petite woman—”90 pounds soaking wet”—who threw a 200-pound Lutheran deacon across the room to the horror of onlookers in a church hall;
- And “Julia,” the so-called Satanic queen and self-described witch, who exhibited “the most harrowing” case, a “once-in-a-century” possession.
Going beyond horror movies and novels, Demonic Foes takes you deep into the supernatural, sharing in full details of these true stories of demonic possession.
Editions of Demonic Foes
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780062876485
- EBook
- ISBN 9780062876461
Read an Excerpt
The world’s leading psychiatric authority on demonic possession delves into the hidden world of exorcisms and his own transformation from cynic to believer over the course of his twenty-five-year career.
Successful New York psychiatrist Richard Gallagher was skeptical yet intrigued when a hard-nosed, no-nonsense Catholic priest asked him to examine a woman for a possible exorcism. Meeting her, Gallagher was astonished. The woman’s behavior, a display of true paranormal ability, defied logic. In an instant, she could pinpoint a person’s secret weaknesses. She knew how individuals she’d never known had died, including Gallagher’s own mother, who passed away after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. She spoke fluently in multiple languages, including Latin—but only when she was in a trance.
This was not psychosis, Gallagher concluded. It was, in his scientific estimation, what could only be describe as paranormal ability. The woman wasn’t mentally disturbed—she was possessed. This remarkable case was the first of many that Gallagher would encounter. Sought after today by leaders of all faiths—ministers, priests, rabbis and imams, Gallagher has spent a quarter-century studying diabolic attacks and exorcisms throughout history and has witnessed more cases than any other psychiatrist in the world today.
In this eerie and enthralling collection of psychiatrist’s personal accounts, Gallagher chronicles his most famous cases for the first time, including:
- A professional who claimed her spiritualist mother had “assigned” her a spirit who “turned on her.”
- A petite woman—”90 pounds soaking wet”—who threw a 200-pound Lutheran deacon across the room to the horror of onlookers in a church hall;
- And “Julia,” the so-called Satanic queen and self-described witch, who exhibited “the most harrowing” case, a “once-in-a-century” possession.
Going beyond horror movies and novels, Demonic Foes takes you deep into the supernatural, sharing in full details of these true stories of demonic possession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Demonic Foes about?
The world’s leading psychiatric authority on demonic possession delves into the hidden world of exorcisms and his own transformation from cynic to believer over the course of his twenty-five-year career.
Successful New York psychiatrist Richard Gallagher was skeptical yet intrigued when a hard-nosed, no-nonsense Catholic priest asked him to examine a woman for a possible exorcism. Meeting her, Gallagher was astonished. The woman’s behavior, a display of true paranormal ability, defied logic. In an instant, she could pinpoint a person’s secret weaknesses. She knew how individuals she’d never known had died, including Gallagher’s own mother, who passed away after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. She spoke fluently in multiple languages, including Latin—but only when she was in a trance.
This was not psychosis, Gallagher concluded. It was, in his scientific estimation, what could only be describe as paranormal ability. The woman wasn’t mentally disturbed—she was possessed. This remarkable case was the first of many that Gallagher would encounter. Sought after today by leaders of all faiths—ministers, priests, rabbis and imams, Gallagher has spent a quarter-century studying diabolic attacks and exorcisms throughout history and has witnessed more cases than any other psychiatrist in the world today.
In this eerie and enthralling collection of psychiatrist’s personal accounts, Gallagher chronicles his most famous cases for the first time, including:
- A professional who claimed her spiritualist mother had “assigned” her a spirit who “turned on her.”
- A petite woman—”90 pounds soaking wet”—who threw a 200-pound Lutheran deacon across the room to the horror of onlookers in a church hall;
- And “Julia,” the so-called Satanic queen and self-described witch, who exhibited “the most harrowing” case, a “once-in-a-century” possession.
Going beyond horror movies and novels, Demonic Foes takes you deep into the supernatural, sharing in full details of these true stories of demonic possession.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Demonic Foes?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Alternative belief systems and spiritual worldviews > Occult studies / Supernatural studies > Satanism / demonology
Where can I read a sample of Demonic Foes?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780062876485
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Demonic Foes?
Richard Gallagher
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Demonic Foes is available as paperback(ISBN 9780062876485) and ebook(ISBN 9780062876461)
Where can I buy Demonic Foes online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Demonic Foes from below
Where can I buy Demonic Foes?