There is an old joke that the best way to get rid of a demon is to “exorcise a lot.” For Rev. Bob Larson, exorcising a lot is no joke. The Scottsdale reverend claims that he has carried out more than 20,000 exorcisms and, because we live in the age of electronics, many are performed using Skype.
Exorcisms have been conducted for thousands of years. The gospel of St Mark tells of Jesus performing at least one: “And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”
Rev. Larson says, “In simple terms, an exorcism is the process of expelling an evil spirit from an individual who has become somehow invaded and demonized by that being, and sending it back to hell and freeing the person.” Back in May, According to a Catholic television channel, Pope Francis carried out his first exorcism for a 43-year-old-man in a wheel chair in St Peter’s Square after a Sunday Mass. “Exorcists who have seen the footage have no doubt–this was a prayer for liberation from Evil, an actual exorcism,” said TV2000, which is owned by the Italian Bishops Conference.
As for Reverend Larson, he will continue to help “possessed” victims rid themselves of demons. He calmly defends his exorcisms and rebukes his critics that view his work as some type of disturbing and dramatic night club act, “It’s real…. There would be no reason to theatrically stage this for any reason. Why would anybody do that? I have no idea.”