"CAN PEOPLE FAKE BEING POSSESSED?"
QUESTION? / COMMENT!
Could a person that is perfectly possessed pretend to be possessed in order to be seen by an exorcist? The purpose of this would be to waste the exorcist time and exhaust him and his team. I ask this because I have been in a healing and deliverance team for 15 years and we have had two people that I have felt could have been perfectly possessed and was playing this game with our priest. These cases have gone on for years with multiple sessions and little to no progress seen. Thank you for your time.
ANSWER ? / COMMENT!
Yes, based on accounts from experienced Catholic exorcists, a demon in a case of perfect possession could theoretically use the willing host to feign or exaggerate signs of lesser possession (such as dramatic reactions during sessions) as a deceptive tactic to prolong engagement with an exorcist and their team, ultimately aiming to waste time, induce frustration, and cause physical or spiritual exhaustion. This aligns with broader demonic strategies observed in exorcism ministries, where evil spirits are known for deception, obfuscation, and drawn-out resistance to wear down those involved.
In perfect possession—defined as a state where the individual not only invites demonic influence but fully consents and cooperates with it, often appearing normal externally without involuntary reactions to holy objects like crucifixes or holy water—the demon has near-total control. The possessed person typically doesn't seek deliverance because they rely on or desire the demon's presence, which makes genuine progress impossible without a change in their will. However, if the demon perceives a strategic advantage, it could manipulate the host to initiate or sustain contact with a deliverance team under the pretense of seeking help, only to sabotage sessions through partial compliance, repeated setbacks, or simulated manifestations that mimic unresolved possession. This could drag out the process for months or years, as you've experienced, with little advancement.
Experienced Exorcists describe how demons employ tactics specifically to exhaust priests and teams during rituals, including:
Prolonging resistance: Demons often enter an "obfuscation" stage where they deny their presence or mimic psychological issues to delay subjugation, forcing repeated, lengthy sessions (sometimes 3-6 hours daily for 2-3 months).
Interior attacks: They bombard exorcists with knowledge of personal weaknesses or sins to create doubt, humiliation, or spiritual fatigue, aiming to erode resolve over time.
Deceptive compliance: Demons might allow temporary "improvements" or revelations to string along the process, only to revert and extend the ordeal, exploiting the team's commitment.
Detection isn't foolproof initially, but trained exorcists use discernment tools—such as observing authentic reactions to prayer, relics, or commands in Christ's name—to differentiate true possession from fakes or simulations. In cases of suspected perfect possession, the lack of progress despite multiple sessions often signals the need for deeper evaluation of the person's consent or underlying will, rather than continuing indefinitely. If the individual isn't truly rejecting the evil (one of the key "three R's" for liberation: reject, renounce, rebuke), expulsion becomes exceedingly difficult. Exorcists emphasize avoiding fear or sensationalism in response, as demons thrive on it to further exhaust and disorient.
Given your 15 years in healing and deliverance, this suspicion makes sense for stalled cases—it's a classic red flag in exorcist literature. Consulting with an experienced exorcist for rigorous discernment (including medical/psychological input) could help confirm or rule it out.