The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Monday April 13, 2015
Today we leave our toy department for a story about the rise of the occult. Also, a sweet track from the new Dwight Yoakam album.
Beautiful young vampires
Demon possession? Exorcism? Aren’t these ideas relics of an antiquated past?
In a culture that denies the supernatural there’s no room for such notions. However to the world at large, and definitely to the annals of human history, these things are cosmic common sense.
The Vatican has reported that claims of demon possession, and thus the need for priests who are trained as exorcists, has gone up. They admit that many purported cases turn out to be mental illness, but occasionally exorcism is necessary. And it works.
It’s the church doesn’t like emphasize because of how Hollywood the idea has gotten. I have met the exorcist in the diocese of the Twin Cities, and he’s open about it, but he definitely doesn’t go around advertising it.
Interestingly, reports on the rise of exorcism partially link it to the appearance of “beautiful young vampires” in many popular TV shows, movies, and books. This seems ridiculous on the surface, but it makes sense that a culture filled with positive representations of the occult would influence some people to take it a step further. There’s also a natural interest in things that are shrouded in mystery and have a bit of danger tied to them. It doesn’t take a lot to rouse that in people. Hell, I even feel it in myself sometimes.
That’s not to say that True Blood is causing a bunch of people to become demon possessed. But sometimes the subtle things in life wield the most destructive influence. There’s some old story about a Garden that can give you more insight on that.
Return of a Legend
It's always good to hear from musicians that are keeping hard country music alive. '80s and '90s star Dwight Yoakam is at the forefront of this, at least as far as the combination of popularity and dedication to craft goes. His new song "Liar" is an upbeat boogie in the style of his mentor Buck Owens and '50s rockabilly greats like Carl Perkins. It has a contemporary sound and energy that make it far beyond mere imitation.
Pick up his new album Second Hand Heart this week.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Pick up his new album Second Hand Heart this week.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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