I watched this program tonight on Channel 4. There has been, unsurprisingly, a lot of controversy over this and so I thought I would watch the program for myself.

Essentially this was an experiment, a bit of a combination of science and God I guess with the person’s brain being studied as he is prayed for.

The program started with 2 fairly solid interviews, one from an Anglican priest, and then a bit of history, with good reference to the fact that Jesus cast out demons. It is made clear that exorcism/deliverance is part of mainstream Christianity. The research into the program struck me as being very professional and balanced. I think I was expecting a mickey take – but I am glad to say this was a serious investigation.

The deliverance (as I don’t think this was an exorcism) itself on ‘Colin’ was very undramatic. There was no shouting pastor as I feared with lots of sensation – in fact the pastor, Trevor Newport, treated Colin with dignity and respect throughout and the whole event lasted for about 2 minutes. In that short time, Trevor prayed in the name of Jesus and kept asking and checking that Colin was ok. If anyone who watched this had suggested to them they needed deliverance and so should be prayed for, there would have been nothing here to put them off.

Colin was interviewed afterwards and explained what he felt had happened. A very peaceful process was how he described it although he could not identify a definite time when the spirits left.

From the brain scanning it was reported nothing extraordinary happened was recorded. They could, however, identify a point of deliverance in the brain activity patterns.

The best comment from a professor when asked for a comment: ‘What we have seen here is someone prayed for in the name of Jesus Christ who now feels better. I can’t comment any more than that”

There will undoubtedly be more opposition to C4 for showing this. I think, though, that the program was one that was well thought out and planned with an atmosphere of dignity and respect. It was great to see different wings of the church agreeing and disagreeing without losing the plot.

The most amazing thing that struck me about tonight – virtually no one disputed the possibility that God was involved.

You can read a further BBC report on Trevor Newport and his church, Life Changing ministries, here.