Trained Catholic exorcists in the USUS cheese imports
As America's supply of trained Catholic exorcists grew from a handful to something approaching a guild between 2005 and 2021, so too did its appetite for foreign cheese. One is forced to consider whether demonic possession creates unusual cravings, or whether importing Gruyère at scale simply invites a class of supernatural problem that domestic cheddar does not. The correlation sits at a frankly suspicious 0.97. The Vatican has not commented on this, which is itself suspicious.
Both trends reflect the same underlying cultural shift: a revival of traditional and artisanal practices in an era of mass-produced modernity. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops formally reestablished exorcism training programs in the early 2000s, responding to rising demand from parishes. Meanwhile, US cheese imports roughly doubled between 2005 and 2021 as artisan and specialty cheese culture boomed alongside foodie media. Both are niche-becoming-mainstream stories, driven by the same demographic of consumers seeking authenticity.
When two revival movements — one spiritual, one culinary — grow in tandem, the data will dutifully record their relationship without asking why. The universe does not distinguish between a meaningful pattern and a coincidental one; that is entirely your job.
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Want to learn more about why correlations like “Trained Catholic exorcists in the US” vs “US cheese imports” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
