25th October, 2005

JANET CAMILLERI

Glimpses of the Devil: A Psychiatrist’s personal accounts of possession,exorcism, and redemption

M. Scott Peck

Published by Free Press, New York, 2005.

In a word: Insightful

"Although personally I didn’t agree with all Peck’s doctrinal and theological beliefs, it is clear he is a man of the utmost integrity in both his faith and his profession."

Dr Peck is perhaps best known as the author of The Road Less Travelled, a bestseller since it was released in 1978. He is also a Christian, and a psychiatrist.

I am not one to give too much attention or focus on the devil, but at the same time it is important to realise that he does indeed exist and that his mission is to attack and destroy Christians, preventing them from fulfilling the purposes of God in their lives. This book offers a rare chance to “know thy enemy”.

Peck writes about his professional and  spiritual experiences with two patients that he suspects may be in the grip of something supernatural.

When Peck first became a Christian, he was doubtful about the existence of the devil, let alone the possibility of demon possession. Then he met 27-yea- old Jersey, a wife and mother-of-two and acting very bizarrely. Peck quickly realised that what was plaguing Jersey and destroying her family was not a diagnosable mental illness, but in fact something much darker and more sinister. Despite being a mere babe-in-Christ, Peck dedicated much time, energy, study and prayer to helping Jersey be freed psychologically and spiritually.

Several years later Peck encounters Beccah, a woman in her mid-40’s trapped in an abusive marriage. Once again, Peck’s spiritual awareness is heightened as he comes face-to-face with demonic possession.

Glimpses of the Devil is especially intriguing and worthy of study, as Peck approaches the subject from the objective medical viewpoint, as well as the Christian perspective. Although personally I didn’t agree with all Peck’s doctrinal and theological beliefs, it is clear he is a man of the utmost integrity in both his faith and his profession. His professional approach to exorcisms also drew my admiration, a far cry from the usual drama and showmanship, which I have come to associate with deliverance ministries seen in the media.

Knowing just how controversial his subject was, Dr Peck kept these accounts a secret for nearly 25 years. However, I for one am glad that he had the courage to break this silence. Glimpses of the Devil has much knowledge and wisdom to offer the psychiatric and medical professions, but the Christian community as well.