March 5, 2006: Catholicism, Exorcisms, and Evil - Rama Coomaraswamy
March 5, 2006: Catholicism, Exorcisms, and Evil - Rama Coomaraswamy  
Podcast: The Art Bell Archive
Published On: Fri Dec 26 2025
Description: Rama Coomaraswamy brings an extraordinary background spanning Hindu traditions, Harvard education, cardiovascular surgery, psychiatry, and Catholic priesthood to examine evil, exorcism, and spiritual warfare. How does someone trained in both Eastern mysticism and Western medicine understand supernatural phenomena? Coomaraswamy's unique journey from Hindu upbringing through 30 years as a thoracic surgeon to eventual ordination in the Roman Catholic Church provides unparalleled perspective on spiritual encounters. As a friend of the late Father Malachi Martin, he shares insider knowledge about the reality of demonic possession and the Church's approach to exorcism. The discussion explores the intersection of medical science and spiritual intervention, examining cases where psychiatric treatment fails and supernatural explanation becomes necessary. Coomaraswamy addresses the controversial nature of exorcism in modern times, explaining how the Church carefully distinguishes between mental illness and genuine possession. His medical background adds credibility to discussions of phenomena that challenge conventional understanding, while his spiritual training provides tools for confronting genuine evil. This episode offers a rare combination of scientific skepticism and spiritual wisdom from someone qualified to bridge both worlds.