Demons and Exorcism from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages

Jonathan Henry, PhD, Scholar of New Testament and Early Christianity 

Demons and exorcism have been topics of discussion across many cultures and times. In Christianity’s first four centuries, exorcism became associated with marginalized or vulnerable people, providing many implications for cultural and political thinking. In this video, Dr. Jonathan Henry explains what people of the past thought about demons, the steps they took for managing problems attributed to demons, and most crucially, what all of this can tell us about people themselves. This knowledge offers a window for understanding human nature and the practical impact of abstract beliefs. 

Video

Discussion Questions

  1. Dr. Henry suggests that “one person’s god is another person’s demon.” What does this mean? Can you think of situations where a person, community, or culture were “demonized” for their worldview or religion? 
  2. Women, children, and “deviant” men were among the most frequently mentioned targets of exorcism by power-hungry bishops of late antiquity. Can you think of reasons why this tactic proved so effective? How have such “methods of marginalization” been adapted into contemporary culture? 

Further Reading

Dayna S. Kalleres, City of Demons: Violence, Ritual, and Christian Power in Late Antiquity (Oakland: University of California Press, 2015).    
Henry A. Kelly, The Devil at Baptism: Ritual, Theology, and Drama (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 1985)

Cite

Henry, Jonathan. "Demons and Exorcism from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages," Middle Ages for Educators, March 9, 2025. Accessed [date]. https://middleagesforeducators.princeton.edu/demons-and-exorcism-late-a…