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Exorcism is the act of forcing an evil disembodied entity to leave something, most commonly a person it has possessed (See Possession). Exorcisms may also be performed to put an end to the haunting of a place or a thing.

Many belief systems incorporate some form of exorcism. In areas where there are competing belief systems, as in the case of colonial Africa, the greater ability to exorcise was seen as one of the parameters for choosing a belief system.

Exorcism often involves considerable ritual, and asking for intercession by supernatural forces. A Roman Catholic exorcist performs the "Roman Ritual" and a variety of prayers to expel the demons from the possessed. The use of holy water, the Bible and other religious artifacts are common.

The Roman Catholic Church employs various exorcists in different dioceses. Chicago has employeed a full time exorcist since 2005, and the Vatican has three exorcists.

American mass media audiences became much more familiar with the topic after the book and movie The Exorcist were huge hits.

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