Demons of the Privy

San Francisco has been dubbed the "Poop Capital of America"

Topics

Uncategorized

San Francisco was recently dubbed the “Poop Capital of America” due to the high number of poop complaints reported in 2017. Local channel KRON reports that while dogs play a part, at issue is the number of homeless people defecating in streets and parks.

Could “privy demons” be a reason why down-and-outers find relief in an open park or on a public sidewalk? Cultures around the world offer numerous legends of gods, demons, and ghosts that lurk in the most private place of any building—the toilet. That’s right, not even restrooms are safe. The Babylonian Talmud Soncino Edition: Gittin 70a states, “On coming from a privy, a man should not have sexual intercourse till he has waited long enough to walk half a mile, because the demon of the privy is with him for that time; if he does, his children will be epileptic.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard M. DellOrfano spent ten years on a cross-country pilgrimage following Christ’s instruction to minister without possessions. He is completing his autobiography: Path Perilous, My Search for God and the Miraculous.

From The Narthex

Another Thomistic Howler?

In my last post I argued that St. Thomas Aquinas got it wrong when he…

'Social Justice,' 'Solidarity,' or Just Slogans?

My eldest son, John Zygmunt, graduated college last month with a double major. I’m proud…

Balancing Acts

Real-world balances have objective measures. Karl Wallenda, the patriarch of The Flying Wallendas, launched the…