Summary
Bob Larson is not a Roman Catholic priest and was not trained under the guidelines used in Catholic exorcism. Catholic exorcists generally follow specific procedures, including seeking the opinions of medical and psychological professionals before performing an exorcism. [1] Larson performs what he calls "deliverance sessions" online via Skype, charging up to $1,195 for a two-hour session rather than conducting them in person.
Larson has a long history of criticizing Paganism, Wicca, and esoteric traditions. Through his media platforms, he promotes his approach to deliverance ministry while expressing strong opposition to alternative forms of spirituality.
Biography
Born on May 28, 1944, in Westwood, California, and raised in rural Nebraska, Larson was drawn to music at a young age. By age 13, he played guitar and piano and even fronted a rock band called The Rebels. While enrolled at the University of Nebraska, Larson abandoned his music career to pursue Christian ministry. During this period, he warned young people about what he believed were the spiritual dangers and anti-social behaviors associated with rock-and-roll music.
- 1972: Larson authored numerous books on cults, the occult, and what he viewed as the dangers of secular music, eventually shifting his focus toward spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry. He later became known internationally for performing live exorcisms and established the International School of Exorcism.
- 1980–1990: During the Satanic Panic, Larson debated individuals identified as Satanists. On two occasions, he hosted Nikolas Schreck and Zeena LaVey.
- 1982: He launched Talk Back, a two-hour weekday call-in radio show focused largely on role-playing games and rock music. Over time, Larson came to embrace Christian music.
- Late 1980s: Larson began performing exorcisms of callers on the air. Satanism and allegations of Satanic ritual abuse were frequent topics. He also hosted a half-hour television program that aired weekly on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
His View of the Occult
Bob Larson has frequently criticized modern Paganism, Wicca, and Satanism. He supported claims associated with what became known as the Satanic Panic, a movement fueled in part by allegations of recovered memories and popularized by the now-discredited book Michelle Remembers.[2]
Larson used various media platforms to criticize role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, heavy metal music, video games, Halloween, and other activities that he believed had Satanic influences.
Online Deliverance Ministry
Today, Bob Larson uses the internet as a platform for promoting his deliverance ministry. He offers online "Skype Exorcisms," charging approximately $595 for a one-hour session and $1,195 for a two-hour session. Students trained through his programs reportedly charge around $295 per hour for similar services. [3]
Larson has drawn criticism for his unconventional approach to exorcism.
Within Roman Catholicism, exorcists are generally expected to follow specific procedures, including consulting medical and psychological professionals before determining that an exorcism is warranted. Supporters argue that these procedures are intended to reduce the risk of misidentifying medical or psychological conditions as spiritual afflictions. [4]
There have been documented cases throughout history in which individuals undergoing exorcisms have suffered physical or psychological harm, and in some instances death has occurred.[5, 6, 7, 8]
Conclusion
Larson has used a variety of media platforms to criticize minority religions and alternative spiritual practices. Critics argue that he often interprets these traditions through a highly conservative Christian framework and applies standards to them that he does not always apply to his own beliefs.
In my opinion, Bob Larson profits from offering deliverance services to Christians who believe they are suffering from spiritual bondage. I am concerned that his approach does not place sufficient emphasis on medical or psychological evaluation before attributing problems to demonic influence, which could potentially result in emotional or psychological harm for some individuals.
- https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/dem-guidelines/
- https://therevealer.org/michelle-remembers-and-the-satanic-panic/
- https://spiritual-freedom-church.myshopify.com/
- https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2012/10/11/who-can-conduct-an-exorcism/
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/6-year-boy-killed-alleged-exorcism-mother-charged/story?id=122426581
- https://www.npr.org/2022/05/14/1098950947/exorcism-girl-death-relatives-arrested
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/north-carolina-couple-accused-performing-exorcism-child-4-died-rcna67721
- https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2025/09/25/texas-execution/
