I've exorcised 50,000 people… and I believe the devil is now using technology in the fight for our souls

American exorcist, who claims to have evicted demons from 50,000 people over 50 years, has described what he believes is a terrifying new way the devil is claiming victims.Bob Larson became famous in the 1980s with a radio call-in show called Talk Back, where he performed ‘live’ exorcisms over the phone. He now conducts the ceremonial practice via Skype and Zoom, charging a set fee ranging from $295 to $395 for a one-hour remote video session.But his latest warning concerns what people encounter online, from social media and spiritual websites to AI chatbots, which he believes can draw vulnerable users toward the occult.He told the Daily Mail that he has exorcised people who he believes became possessed after using ChatGPT and AI chatbots.These are Larson’s religious interpretations of the experiences he describes. His accounts alone do not establish that chatbot use caused demonic possession.‘I worked with a young woman the other day who was talking to a chatbot, and this thing was pushing her deeper and deeper into very strange types of thoughts, and finally got to the point where it was telling her to commit suicide,’ said Larson.He said the woman was looking for love and connection and developed a romantic attachment to the chatbot, describing it as a ‘love relationship with this thing.’ Bob Larson became famous in the 1980s with a radio call-in show called Talk Back, where he performed ‘live’ exorcisms over the phoneHis account alone does not establish the full contents of the conversation or what caused the woman’s distress. Even if a chatbot produced harmful responses, that would not demonstrate a supernatural explanation for her experiences.Larson also believes chatbots and spiritual websites can draw people searching for love or answers into witchcraft and the occult.‘Sometimes it is a connection they make with a voice that speaks to them through ChatGPT or whatever,’ he said. ‘But they are looking to communicate with another realm. They're looking for an answer.’Larson believes possession often follows trauma or dysfunction, when people become angry at God and dabble in witchcraft or the occult. That explanation reflects his beliefs rather than a medical assessment of the people he describes.The US Conference of Catholic Bishops says thorough medical, psychological and psychiatric assessments should precede referral for a major exorcism, which requires a bishop or a priest authorized by the local bishop. Its guidance also calls for input from medical and mental health professionals when investigating possession claims.Larson’s claims have also faced scrutiny on television.A 2019 episode of Dr Phil featured a couple who said they had undergone exorcisms, with host Phil McGraw challenging their belief that demons were responsible for their experiences and suggesting psychological explanations. His latest warning concerns what people encounter online, from social media and spiritual websites to AI chatbots, which he believes can draw vulnerable users toward the occultLarson maintains that his work is a form of Christian ministry, using prayer and commands in Jesus’ name to expel what he believes are evil spirits.His latest warning focuses on how technology is changing the way people encounter what he considers the occult.In previous decades, people would experiment with Ouija boards, he said, but he believes temptation is now often found online or on social media.One woman, he claimed, encountered a demon after visiting a ‘twin flame’ website, based on the New Age idea of a spiritual match who is the other half of someone’s soul.‘She followed all they were telling her about how to meet your twin flame, your true love, this spiritual being who will come to you,’ Larson explained.‘Well, she ended up having sexual demonic experiences, and that completely derailed her life.’That description is Larson’s characterization of the woman’s experiences and does not establish that a supernatural encounter occurred.His interest in exorcisms began while traveling in Southeast Asia, where he first witnessed an exorcism he described as ‘very raw, very violent, very physical’.The encounter left him wondering whether demonic possession might happen in America.When he began half a century ago, he said: ‘Outside of the Catholic Church, most churches said little about it, didn't know anything about it. There were no books on the subject.’ While he offers services via Skype and Zoom, Larson still attends churchs to perform exorcismsHis first encounter in America with what he interpreted as possession occurred while giving a speech at a Christian youth group, when a young girl approached him.Larson said: ‘She said, “I don't believe in your God.” I said, “Well, why don't you believe in God?” She said, “I believe in the devil.” I said, “Well, then, why do you believe in the devil?” She said, “I have sex with the devil.”’He described it as ‘going from zero to 100’ and admitted he had little idea what to do.‘The demon started speaking. Now, what was particularly interesting is this demon actually claimed to be from England, and this is a 15-year-old girl from rural Missouri who is speaking in the Queen's English, in a beautiful British accent,’ Larson said.The account is his recollection of the encounter. A reported change in accent or behavior does not, by itself, establish demonic possession.A former missionary helped him perform what Larson described as an exorcism.‘I did the best that I could. I didn't even know enough to get her address to follow up and see how she was doing. It was just sort of a state of shock,’ he said.His admission that he did not follow up also leaves the girl’s subsequent condition unclear.He then studied Catholic treatises and books from around the world, teaching himself how to perform exorcisms.He said: ‘One thing that really troubled me was that I couldn't talk to priests and pastors about it. Nobody wanted to talk about it, and they ostracised me. So I had to go my own way because the organised church wanted nothing to do with it.’People began contacting him through his radio show.He said: ‘So I'm really curious, and then it just started happening. People started coming to me. People would call my radio show, and in the middle of talking with me, they would manifest demonic behaviour.’For Larson, an exorcism begins with questions about a person’s background, including their family, religious history and current beliefs, according to his Spiritual Freedom Church website.The ritual aims to expel what the practitioner believes is an evil spirit through prayer and commands invoking Jesus Christ.In a 2017 account, Cronkite News described Larson using a cross, a Bible and holy water, pressing the cross and Bible against a person’s head and back while those around them prayed and ordered the supposed spirit to leave.His approach differs from the Catholic Church’s formal rite, which includes prayers, Bible readings, blessed water and the sign of the cross.The Church’s guidance also cautions against too readily attributing a person’s behavior to the devil and emphasizes careful assessment before proceeding.Larson has also taken his rituals online, arguing that distance does not prevent him from performing them.‘Then I started doing it on Zoom, and CNN sent out a crew, and they said every priest, every pastor we talked to says you can't dispel spirits on Skype,' he said.‘I said, “Sure, why not? Jesus would have done it.” I think Jesus would have used Skype and Zoom or whatever technology was available, and by God's direction, been a pioneer to try all these new ways to connect with people.’He says some exorcists working for him previously underwent his rituals themselves, and that he still performs exorcisms five to six days a week.Above all, he believes there’s hope, saying: ‘Christ is more powerful than the devil. Stop playing Satan's game and start putting your life in relationship with God.‘And exorcisms might be the thing that will change you into a healthy, loving, productive person.‘No matter what a person has been through, no matter what trauma they've experienced, no matter what dysfunction has happened in their life, no matter how much they've been beaten down, with Christ there is hope, and with deliverance and exorcism there is hope.’