Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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How do the Copts view exorcism performed by Non-Christians? What distinguishes true Christian exorcism from the so-called exorcism of other faith walks?

We need to differentiate between exorcism and witchcraft or sorcery. The ancient Egyptians ascribed certain diseases and various other evils to demons; and believed in the efficacy of magical charms and incantations for banishing or dispelling them. The dead, particularly so, needed to be well fortified with magic in order to be able to safely accomplish their perilous journey to the underworld. But of exorcism, in the strict sense, there is hardly any trace in the Egyptian records.

Most of the ethnic cultures or religions, who claim to cast evil spirits, are really practicing witchcraft. If some people claim that they do have the power to perform exorcism, it does not mean that it is from God; because we read in the Holy Bible about an incident when some Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to cast out evil spirits and were beaten by those same evil spirits (Acts 19:13-16).

Also we know that even some of those who do cast out evil spirits in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will not be accepted by our Lord "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Mt 7:22-23)
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