HORRIFIC footage of a dad beating his son because he believes the boy is possessed by the devil has been screened on medical talk show, Dr Phil in the US.

Twelve-year-old Jack, whose mother claims he suffers from a mental illness, is seen being held down by his neck while smacked by his father.

“I believe my son is possessed. Is it a demon or is it the devil, I can’t say, but it’s scary,” John says of his son, when speaking about Jack’s condition.

“I feel that it is demons inside him controlling him. There is definitely something not right with Jack"

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/kids/father-claims-his-12yearold-son-is-possessed-by-the-devil-and-wants-an-exorcism-performed/news-story/4ee3be0012d1fe1f1299133112278616

It’s really easy for autism experts and people who have autism to KNOW WHAT TO DO and look down at people who have no training or knowledge of this sort of behavior in autistic children. My mom would have beaten me to death for behaving like that. That is no exaggeration to say this. Neither of my parents would have known, and would probably consulted a priest for exorcism too as they were devoutly faith based, as is this father. All come from a background where one does not spoil the child, and one does NOT spare the rod.

Honestly though, that kind of screaming and the physical threats and violence that kid has done, would leave me feeling murderous and abusive too. Honestly, I have NO coping skills for melt down behavior, and I would be seriously scared by that violent, threatening, disruptive kid. So, what would be the helpful steps for that father to take with his son rather than do what was probably done to himself as a child?

It’s not helpful to just criticize him. What would a parent do...it would seem that maybe this family lives in a poor rural Bible Belt, and do not have education or access to the services found in the big cities.