E165: Filled with the Spirit: Demonic Possession and Spirit Belief w/ Dr. Kara Griffin

Recovering From Religion

This week on RfRx we are getting into the spirit of the fall season by taking a social scientific look at belief in some of the spookier aspects of the supernatural: spirits and demons. Anthropologist Kara Griffin will share their experiences growing up steeped in these beliefs in fundamentalist evangelical churches, discuss the basis of belief in spirits and demons across cultures, and consider some of their uses in contemporary society. Bring your spooky questions and stories! We will save plenty of time for discussion and Q&A.

Kara Griffin was born in Texas and raised in Southern Baptist, evangelical, and non-denominational mega-churches and private schools. After leaving the faith in the mid-2000s, Kara was able to pursue their passion for learning, traveling, and experiencing diverse cultures and perspectives. They holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology, International Relations, and Criminal Justice, a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management, and a PhD in Anthropology.

Kara enjoys working with secular community services that support other people who may have experienced judgment, repression, or other struggles related to involvement with religious groups.

At RfR, Kara volunteers as the Online Programming Director and hosts the weekly RfRx Talks sessions. In their free time, Kara can be found volunteering, teaching and lecturing at universities and conferences, reading all kinds of books (especially sci-fi), and spending time with their dog, Snow.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at [e-mail].

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

[phone] in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate