What I find remarkable is that this notion is so popular at the local R&F level, yet very little has been published in the official publications that would support such superstition, of objects actually becoming "demonized". The word "demonized" occurs some 40 times in the publications, none of them being applied to objects and almost all to people, and most in references to the healings of Jesus and the apostles in the NT. The only suggestion that I can find is an article in the Awake! (22 May 1977, p. 26) on exorcism which quoted the New Catholic Encyclopedia as saying that exorcism is the "act of driving out or warding off demons or evil spirits from persons, places, or things that are, or believed to be, possessed or infested by them or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice". The article took a negative view towards exorcism, yet the presumption that there are demons that can "infest objects" was tacitly accepted. The article gives this recommendation that seems to lie behind the many stories we have heard of "demonized objects":
***g77 5/22 p. 28 Should Christians Practice Exorcism? ***
Any individual who believes that he is under attack by wicked spirit forces should shun spiritism, divination and related practices. (Deut. 18:10-12).... Obviously, to resist wicked spirit forces, a person should guard against association with those who dabble in magic, witchcraft and the like. Instead, association should be sought with those who are true Christians. (1 Cor. 15:33) He should remove from his person and his home any object having any connection with demonic religion.
Moreover, the Society frequently quotes Acts 19:19-20 in support of their belief that anything connected with "spiritism" should be dispensed with. This does not necessarily mean that the objects themselves are demonized, but it is interesting that the Society applies this scripture loosely to anything they think is "un-Christian" and thus "demonic" such as comic books, videos, music, etc.:
*** g00 7/22 pp. 6-7 Why You Should Avoid Spiritism *** The Bible explains: "Quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody." (Acts 19:19) By destroying their books on divination, those new Christians set an example for all who wish to resist wicked spirits today. Get rid of all objects related to spiritism. This would include all books, magazines, comic books, videos, posters, material from electronic sources, and music recordings that have spiritistic overtones, as well as amulets or other items worn for "protection."
Still, the Society has not published any warnings about "used objects" and purchasing items at garage sales. In fact, the Society has taken a fairly positive view towards buying used appliances, furniture, and other items at flea markets, garage sales, and so forth, as it would assist JWs in living frugally (see 22 July 1984 Awake!, p. 7 which says "Garage or yard sales are also good places for picking up some inexpensive toys for the children"; cf. 8 December 1984 Awake!, p. 27, 22 February 1988 Awake!, p. 19). It seems that the R&F has extended the "warnings" in the literature to almost anything that could possibly have a connection with a person who formerly had been involved with "spiritism".
It is interesting that the Society became obsessed with the demonism question in the 1970s. This includes articles linking Yoga and trancendental meditation with demons (8 November 1975 Awake!, p. 11), demons and drugs (15 March 1973 Watchtower, p. 176), demons and witchcraft (15 August 1973 Watchtower, p. 485), demons and mental illness (22 May 1977 Awake!, p. 26), demons and funerals, weddings, pregnancies, circumcisions, illness, dreams (Unseen Spirits broshure, 1978, pp. 1-58), demons and water dowsing (22 June 1979 Awake!, p. 18), demons and hallucinations (This Life book, 1974, p. 85-88), a QFR on "demonic assault" (15 July 1974 Watchtower, p. 447), the several articles on the movie The Exorcist (22 September 1975 Awake!, p. 17; 8 December 1980 Awake!, p. 11-12), etc. Quite dramatic is the following story about a person who was plagued by demonic influences after watching The Exorcist:
*** g80 12/8 pp. 11-12 Breaking Free From Occult Power ***
"It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. It was horrible. I could feel something was happening to me. I was shaking all over and could only just manage to pick myself up from my seat to walk out. But this was only the beginning of my troubles. Returning home, I was ready to burst into tears. My husband offered me little comfort as he had told me not to go to see the film in the first place. How right he was! I could not sleep that night, dreaming about the film. During the coming weeks things went from bad to worse. I was frightened to go to bed and when I did I would wake up in a cold sweat. I knew there was something in my house, as I could feel it with me wherever I went. I felt I was going out of my mind. It occurred to me that if there were such evil forces there must surely be good ones too. So I started looking around for a cross that I could wear for protection. I also bought a St. Christopher medal for the same purpose. Each night I would hold them in my hand and pray, hoping that if there was a God he would help me. But things did not improve. In fact, they seemed to get worse....It was only when I finally disposed of all my pagan religious objects and charms that I experienced complete freedom."
It is interesting how such superstititions are widely held by the R&F and go further than what the Society states on the matter. I personally knew of one elder who was shocked that we watched the TV show Knight Rider, as it concerned a "demonic" talking car. He also believed that no Christian should watch Ripley's Believe It or Not because of its "spiritism". He believed that the television set was "Satan's Eye" and served as a conduit of demonic influence in the home. (He was a nutter; he also said in one Watchtower study that people who wear sunglasses must be masturbators because their unclean habit has damaged their vision)
