Gottliebin Dittus
Gottliebin Dittus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gottliebin Dittus | |
| Born | 1815 |
| Died | 1872 (aged 56–57) |
Gottliebin Dittus (1815 – 1872) was a German woman who was allegedly possessed by demons and exorcised over a period of years by Johann Blumhardt. These events solidified the standing of Blumhardt as a divine and minister and became a notable event in German Lutheranism.
Early life
Dittus was a parishioner at Möttlingen[1] in present-day Baden-Württemberg province of Germany.
Possession and exorcism
Dittus was a central figure in one of the most famous cases of alleged possession and poltergeist activity in 19th-century Germany, known as the Möttlingen Poltergeist or Spiritual Disturbances at Möttlingen. She was not a public figure in the conventional sense but became historically notable due to this paranormal case, which was documented by Christian Friedrich Blumhardt, a Lutheran pastor who was the son of the exorcist.
In the late 1830s and early 1840s, Dittus reportedly began experiencing strange phenomena, including:
- Trances and seizures
- Speaking in voices not her own
- Supernatural manifestations in her home (noises, moving objects, etc.)
The situation drew the attention of Johann Christoph Blumhardt, who was a young pastor in Möttingen at the time. He believed Dittus was possessed by evil spirits and began a long and dramatic process of prayer and exorcism.
After several months, Dittus was said to have been freed from the spirits. The climactic moment came when a voice allegedly cried out from her: "Jesus is Victor!" — a phrase that became famous and was adopted by Blumhardt as a motto of his ministry.
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Legacy
The case profoundly influenced Blumhardt’s theology and ministry, leading to a healing and revival movement.
Personal life
Gottliebin Dittus continued to live in Möttlingen, married and had a number of children.
Dittus died on 26 January 1872.[1]
References
- 1 2 Lejeune, Robert (2011). Christoph Blumhardt and His Message. The Plough Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-87486-937-8.
Further reading
- "Blumhardt's Battle" by Christoph Blumhardt:
- Johann Christoph Blumhardt: Life and Work: A New Biography, by .Dieter Ising, trans. Monty Ledford (Eugene: Cascade, 2009)
- Die Besessene: Gottliebin Dittus in Moettlingen (The Possessed: Gottliebin Dittus in Moettlingen) by Herbert Schmidt:
- The Awakening: One Man’s Battle with Darkness By Friedrich Zündel
- DEMONIC POSSESSION Interpretations of a Historico-Cultural Phenomenon, Edited by von Hans de Waardt et al. Verlag für Regionalgeschichte Bielefeld 2005 (see page 294)