Do Anglicans believe in Demons, the Devil and evil Spirits?

I think that the Scriptures seem pretty clear regarding the existence of Satan and fallen angels. I'm not judging or looking to debate with anyone who disagrees; just stating my position. We certainly renounce Satan in our baptismal vows. I believe they exist. I also believe that Christ has vanquished them and continues to do so.

Originally Posted by Sean611

Good point, i've always wondered who tempted Jesus in the wilderness if not Satan or some sort of evil spirit?

Another good point, if you are "supersticious" enough to believe in God, what's the hang-up on believing in evil spirits or demons?

You can find the link by typing "most christians don't believe in Satan" on google and the barna website is one of the top results.

Thanks for agreeing with me!

It's true, I don't understand anyone who believes in one and not the other. Like my Dad. He believes in the devil and finds it all very scary, but ask him if he believes in God and he turns into an atheist. It makes no rational sense whatsoever.

Ohhh thanks! I'll go and have a look in a sec

__________________
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
-St Paul of Tarsus

Originally Posted by Christ is my saviour

Hmmm, I suppose that is a rational analysis. However, would Jesus the son of God really be fooled by an illness? I would have thought he would have known the difference as he healed the sick AND the possessed.

The question is not whether Jesus was 'fooled' but what did people believe at the time, that is, what was their epistemic framework. If they saw someone with Tourette syndrome would they have said he was ill, demon possessed, or had a neurological disorder? But your next question is important:

Originally Posted by Christ is my saviour

Also, who was it that tempted Jesus in the dessert?

Aside from making me hungry this raises some important questions not least the relationship with the Gospel narratives and their historicity, that is, was Jesus actually tempted or was that a literary invention to teach a theological point, i.e. that Jesus is the new Israel and where Israel failed Jesus was successful?

The liturgies mention the Devil as a real being.

There is also an official rite of exorcism.

Can't have either without literal demons and a literal Devil.

__________________
President of the WACCAV
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I believe in Demons.
My fellow Christians do also. (Orthodox/R.C./non-conformist)

It would be nice to explain such things away as neuroses. It would be nice.

__________________
Dismiss me not thy service, Lord,
But train me for thy will.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Formerly known as "Ramesses".

Agreed. I was going to post a link in which an Episcopalian Exorcist was interviewed and it is quite interesting, but I can't post links yet. I believe this priest was also featured on one of the ghost hunting shows, although i'm not sure which one.

It's also interesting to note that each Episcopal diocese has an "on call" exorcist. In the book of "occasional practices" or it's called something to that effect, there is some sort of guide to how the exorcism should be conducted.

Add to that what others have mentioned, the liturgies, exorcism priests, the baptismal covenant and, officially at least, i'd say that Anglicans believe in the "real" being of Satan and his demons.

Originally Posted by PaladinValer

The liturgies mention the Devil as a real being.

There is also an official rite of exorcism.

Can't have either without literal demons and a literal Devil.

Well if you are honest you can, having liturgies that mention the devil and having rites for exorcism does not demonstrate proof that demons or the devil exists. At the most it shows that people in the past believed them to exist and so composed liturgies and rites reflecting that.

Originally Posted by LuxMundi

Well if you are honest you can, having liturgies that mention the devil and having rites for exorcism does not demonstrate proof that demons or the devil exists. At the most it shows that people in the past believed them to exist and so composed liturgies and rites reflecting that.

Except that Anglicanism is lex credendi lex orandi. We pray what we believe.

Anglicanism therefore officially teaches that the Devil is a literal being and so are demons. Those liturgies still exist.

The Rite of Baptism mentions the Devil for crying out loud.

__________________
President of the WACCAV
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Originally Posted by PaladinValer

Except that Anglicanism is lex credendi lex orandi. We pray what we believe. Anglicanism therefore officially teaches that the Devil is a literal being and so are demons. Those liturgies still exist.

You are correct that we operate using the formula lex credendi lex orandi and yet I'd suggest your interpretation of such a saying is too strict; the Anglican way is Scripture, Tradition and Reason...so yes we pray what we believe and we believe what we pray but are also critical of our own traditions.

Originally Posted by LuxMundi

You are correct that we operate using the formula lex credendi lex orandi and yet I'd suggest your interpretation of such a saying is too strict; the Anglican way is Scripture, Tradition and Reason...so yes we pray what we believe and we believe what we pray but are also critical of our own traditions.

It isn't reasonable to deny the existence of demons when our liturgies state clearly that they do exist.

I don't accept revisionism. Holy Reason isn't what you seem to think it is. Holy Reason is prayerful use of logic in cooperation with the wider Church and God the Holy Spirit in discernment. It isn't science trumps things it has no authority over.

__________________
President of the WACCAV
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.