Epilepsy was confused in old times with demon possession. [1] Jesus healed epileptics in Capernaum. [2] Jesus healed James of Safed’s son, who was both epileptic and possessed by a real demon. [3] Epileptics often were priests and medicine men. [4]
Lunatics, epileptics, and the feeble-minded were often worshiped by their normal-minded fellows, who believed that such abnormal beings were indwelt by the gods. [5]