Ouija boards and other attempts to converse with the dead are spiritually dangerous practices that should not be viewed as innocent fun, an exorcist priest told Fox News Digital.

"We too often forget that there is much more to this world than meets the eye," Fr. Dan Reehil told Fox News Digital. "Angels, demons, spirits and souls do exist and they can have an impact on our life." 

Rehill is a priest of the Diocese of Nashville. In 2018, he received exorcism training at Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome, and was installed as the exorcist of the Diocese of Nashville that same year. 

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An exorcist, said Reehil, "is a priest chosen and installed by a bishop to exercise the office of deliverance ministry. Exorcism is a specific form of prayer that the [Catholic] Church uses against the power of the devil." 

The Catholic Church distinguishes between two forms of exorcisms, said Reehil. Exorcisms are either "major" or "minor."

"A major exorcism is performed only for one, who is demonstrably possessed by a demon or demons, and may only be performed by a priest the bishop has specifically permitted to do so," said Reehil. 

Conversely, a minor exorcism is associated with sacraments and blessings, said Reehil.

"Demonologists distinguish three levels of demonic incursion," explained Reehil. These three levels are temptation, obsession (which is also called "oppression") and possession. 

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Temptation, said Reehil, is something experienced by everyone. 

Obsession is "when demons torment people physically, spiritually, mentally or emotionally, or some combination of these." 

Possession, which is arguably the most well-known of the three levels, is when a demon or demons "take physical possession of a person's body and make use of its faculties," said Reehil. 

"Possession is usually intermittent, almost never an uninterrupted possessing of the person’s body," he added.

Attempting occult practices, such as purportedly trying to contact the dead via an Ouija board, are a way to open oneself up to demonic activity inadvertently, said Reehil. 

"Demons lie and impersonate dead people," said Reehil. "When asking a board for information about a deceased person, or a life decision, they are all too happy to embed themselves into your life. Using an Ouija board is inviting a demon into your life, whether the person has that intention or not."

The Ouija board was first developed in the late 19th century as a parlor game; these were formerly called "talking boards." 

At the time, séances and other spiritual practices were quite popular activities. 

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The board consists of an alphabet, the words "yes," "no," "goodbye," and the numbers zero through nine. 

To operate the board, a person places their hands on a "planchette," which spirits purportedly move to spell out answers to questions. 

In 1890, a Baltimore spiritualist and medium named Helen Peters asked the talking board what she should call it, said the website for the Talking Board Historical Society. The board responded "O-U-I-J-A," which it said meant "good luck." 

The Ouija board was patented the following year. 

Legend regarding the Ouija board's patent says that Peters accompanied attorney Elijah Bond to the patent office, where the two were instructed by the patent officer to prove that the board worked by spelling out his name, said Smithsonian Magazine. 

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Peters reportedly asked spirits for assistance, and then spelled out the patent officer's name.

It is unclear if Bond or Peters somehow knew the patent officer's name ahead of time, but the patent was awarded on Feb. 10, 1891, by a "white-faced and visibly shaken patent officer," said the magazine. 

The boards were then mass-produced by the Kennard Novelty Company, which was sold to Parker Brothers in 1967. 

Today, the Ouija board is produced by Hasbro, which markets the product as a way to communicate with the "spirit world." Fox News Digital reached out to Hasbro for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

"Enter the world of the mysterious and mystifying with the Ouija board! You've got questions and the spirit world has answers — and the uncanny Ouija board is your way to get them," said the Hasbro website. 

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"What do you want to know? Ask your question with a friend using the planchette that comes with the board, but be patient and concentrate because the spirits can't be rushed. Handle the Ouija board with respect and it won't disappoint you," said the website. 

While the Ouija board is marketed as a toy or board game, Reehil, from his point of view, disagrees with this characterization. 

"Ouija boards should not be viewed in the same way as a typical board game," he said. "Although it is advertised as a game, it is far from it," he added. "Rather, it is a form of divination." 

Divination and other occult practices are condemned by the Bible numerous times, Reehil noted. 

"The very action of using [the Ouija board] has profound spiritual consequences [that are] beyond our control," he said. 

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Perhaps the most famous instance of purported demonic possession connected to Ouija board usage was the case of "Roland Doe," a young teenage boy from Maryland, who underwent numerous major exorcisms in 1949, said Reehil. 

Doe's story was adapted into the 1971 book "The Exorcist" by William Peter Blatty, which was then made into the 1973 movie starring Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair. 

Reehil told Fox News Digital that he has personally seen six cases of demonic oppression that stemmed from Ouija board usage. 

"The victims were left with night terrors, suicidal ideation, despair — and one man was impaled with chicken bones in his leg that flew across the kitchen," he said. 

"Once the deliverance prayers were prayed, and the participants renounced all participation with the demons, the demonic activity ceased," he also said.

"Whenever we seek to engage demons, we move away from the One True God," said Reehil. 

Added the priest, "Stay away from all forms of occult practices — and stay close to God."

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Cheesecake Factory went viral this month when it was ranked the No. 1 place women "refuse" to go on a first date, but Americans from all walks of life have rushed to defend its honor.

Another video went viral in which a woman refused to get out of her car when her date pulled up to Cheesecake Factory. The pair of critical posts ensured Cheesecake Factory is firmly in the zeitgeist, but the expansive menu that features over 250 items appears to remain a favorite among the middle class, regardless of the viral memes. 

"As someone who went on a few dates at the Cheesecake Factory in Georgetown back in the day, I find this rating repulsive. Solid eats, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. I'm going to take my wife there out of principle here in Jersey," Fox News' Joe Concha said. "Take that, haters." 

Comedian Tim Young believes people are rallying behind Cheesecake Factory because it "represents Americana" in multiple ways. 

"It’s one of the nicer chain restaurants that has an over-the-top menu and selection that only the woman in that viral video has ever complained about," Young told Fox News Digital. 

"Nearly everyone I know who has lived by a Cheesecake Factory has either taken a date there or celebrated something nice at the establishment. It's fancy without being fancy, it's over the top but not gaudy, and it makes us normal people feel nice without paying the price of a typical white tablecloth restaurant," Young continued. "We've all been there and the only people who don't like it are lying." 

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin was among the most outspoken defenders of Cheesecake Factory. 

"I want to stand up for The Cheesecake Factory because I go there every week," Hostin said on the daytime gabfest. 

"I go there every week, Paloma has ACT prep and there’s a Cheesecake Factory five minutes away," Hostin continued, referring to her teenage daughter. "They make the best dirty martini." 

Hostin sad she orders her preferred drink with the Tex Mex eggrolls and chicken dumplings.

"I have a very nice time, and everybody’s lovely," Hostin said. 

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ESPN host Stephen A. Smith also defended the chain with a passionate rant, even suggesting multiple items he enjoys. 

"I like Cheesecake Factory; I like their popcorn shrimp and stuff like that. Shrimp scampi and all that stuff, I used to love all that, but I digress," Smith said on his radio show. "What the hell is wrong with the Cheesecake Factory? Ain’t nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory. Not only is there nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory, the Cheesecake Factory ain’t that damn cheap. By the way, I hear they have great salmon, too." 

Smith is also a fan of the chicken sandwiches on the enormous menu.

"My point is," he said, "what’s the problem with the Cheesecake Factory?" 

Fox Sports host Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker, said Cheesecake Factory is absolutely acceptable for a first date.

"It’s not just acceptable, it’s probably wise. Because if you start at Cheesecake Factory, you can build up. But if you start at a five-star steakhouse, they're going to expect that every time," Acho said on the set of FS1’s "Speak." 

His colleagues agree, as "Speak" co-host Joy Taylor said "the menu is like a Bible," and co-host LeSean McCoy added, "if she can’t eat at cheesecake she can’t eat with me." 

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Boston-based WROR radio host Bob Bronson penned a blog defending Cheesecake Factory as a place to take a first date. 

"What is wrong with taking a date there for your first dinner? It’s one of the most popular restaurants in the country. If you don’t believe me, try to get in without reservations on a Friday or Saturday night. The food is always consistently good. The bar is typically large and fun filled with TVs to catch the latest game. The atmosphere is always upbeat. There’s enough going on, so you will never have a dull moment," Bronson wrote. 

Author Carol Roth shared a video in which she said anyone who wouldn’t go to Cheesecake Factory on a first date is "shallow" and "toxic."

"So, there is this list going around social media about places that women refuse to go on a first date," Roth said. "So, the list starts with the absolutely delicious Cheesecake Factory… the reality is that a date is an opportunity to get to know somebody, it’s not a purchase. If you are viewing a date as transactional, you’re going to end up with a transaction, not a relationship." 

OXYGen Financial CEO Ted Jenkins said any slander against Cheesecake Factory is the product of people being too picky. 

"The Cheesecake Factory may be one of the best places to take a first date because there’s zero chance you won’t find something on the menu because everything is on the menu. That’s what people love most about its big menu, big portions, and great cheesecake," Jenkins told Fox News Digital. 

Cheesecake Factory celebrated its 45th anniversary this year after launching in 1978 with its Beverly Hills, California, location. There are now over 300 restaurants across the globe. 

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While many Americans have defended its honor, the company declined to chime in. 

"The Cheesecake Factory kindly declines any comment at this time," a spokesman told Fox News Digital.

Cheesecake Factory did appear to have fun with the viral moment, posting the following video to its X account. 

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