How did demons get so evil?

[The Liturgist]

I do not think there is a causality that when you fear something, you must also hate it.

Do you have a verse saying that demons hate God or hate people? At least one.

Yes, by implication; those verses aside, they are clearly associated with the devil, who is described by our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ in John 8:44, as a “ murderer from the beginning” who is our adversary and stalks us, according to St. Peter, “like a roaring lion.” ( 1 Peter 5:8) .

Insofar as demons make themselves agents in the destructive acts of the devil they participate in his hatred of God and man. And also the testimony of the early Church and a plain reading of Scripture, including 1 Enoch, make it clear these are extremely malignant beings, not like drug addicts but rather like psychopathic serial killers, who afflicted people with physical diseases as well as causing symptoms of what superficially resembles mental illness by hijacking the mind (the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and certain other traditional churches have worked out very good, very solid criteria for discerning demonic possession vs. mental illness, which are really very distinct).

 

[The Liturgist]

Even though there is no evidence for it?

Their malicious actions towards humanity and their false personation of deities (Psalm 95:5 LXX “The gods of the gentiles are demons”, compare to Psalms 96:5 in the Masoretic text, which reads “The gods of the gentiles are idols”; in this case I think the Septuagint (LXX) reading is correct (it usually is) are prima facie evidence for their hatred of God.

Also the tradition of the early church makes it clear they are extremely evil and hate mankind. They are known for tricking humans into spiritual self destruction wherever possible.

 

[friend of]

Even though there is no evidence for it?

I mean like, they are our enemies. They are God's enemies. Would it really be beneath a demon to hate us?

 

[trophy33]

Not that I can recall, however, they are clearly associated with the devil, who is described by our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ in John 8:44, as a “ murderer from the beginning” who is our adversary and stalks us, according to St. Peter, “like a roaring lion.” ( 1 Peter 5:8) .

Insofar as demons make themselves agents in the destructive acts of the devil they participate in his hatred of God and man. And also the testimony of the early Church and a plain reading of Scripture, including 1 Enoch, make it clear these are extremely malignant beings, not like drug addicts but rather like psychopathic serial killers, who afflicted people with physical diseases as well as causing symptoms of what superficially resembles mental illness by hijacking the mind (the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and certain other traditional churches have worked out very good, very solid criteria for discerning demonic possession vs. mental illness, which are really very distinct).

What do you mean by "associated with the devil"? What verse do you have in mind?

Yes, their description in the book of Enoch is more specific. But biblical description is a bit different. Jesus talked with them, asked their names and even allowed them to get at least animal bodies. So it seems like He understood their needs.

 

[trophy33]

I mean like, they are our enemies. They are God's enemies.

Not sure what verse you have in mind...

From what I recall, it seems that they are our enemies in the similar way like parasites or wild beasts are. Wolf is an enemy of a shepherd, but not because wolf is evil and full of hatred.

 

[friend of]

If Jesus says to love your enemies do you think the demons want to obey him?

 

[friend of]

So it seems like He understood their need.

Do you think Jesus will forgive the demons and welcome them back into heaven?

 

[trophy33]

Do you think Jesus will forgive the demons and welcome them back into heaven?

I have no idea.

 

[friend of]

Your sympathy for demons is disturbing.

No sympathy for the devil.

 

[The Liturgist]

What do you mean by "associated with the devil"? What verse do you have in mind?

Yes, their description in the book of Enoch is more specific. But biblical description is a bit different. Jesus talked with them, asked their names and even allowed them to get at least animal bodies. So it seems like He understood their needs.

I have in mind the entirety of the Gospels. One cannot read that without concluding that the demons and the devil are in league.

 

[trophy33]

I have in mind the entirety of the Gospels. One cannot read that without concluding that the demons and the devil are in league.

I also cannot recall anything specific saying so.

 

[trophy33]

Your sympathy for demons is disturbing.

No sympathy for the devil.

I am just talking about the texts we have. Not tradition.

 

[The Liturgist]

I also cannot recall anything specific saying so.

Well I can: Matthew 25:41

 

[trophy33]

Well I can: Matthew 25:41

"“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
Mt 25:41

Not sure what you think it means regarding demons. But maybe you think that demons are fallen angels, then it would make sense.

 

[Sorn]

The explanation from the book of Enoch:

Giants from Gen 6 were children of Watchers - a race of powerful spiritual beings - and of human females.

The giants were destroyed by the flood, but because they were immortal after their fathers, they only lost their bodies and wandered the earth to find another body to live in.

The "classic" mainstream explanation in traditional Christianity:

Demons are fallen angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God.

I do not think this gives any reasons why demons tried to live in people, maybe just some general "because they want to harm them".

If the book of Enoch was not lost for millenias, then maybe the church would not invent this second explanation.

The "modern", more allegorical explanation:

Demons are just personifications of mental/physiological problems and satan is a personification of our personal evil inclinations and temptations.

They could also be a mix of all 3, could be more than 1 type of demon, or at least 2 seeing as how the 3rd is just us not thinking right.

 

[Sorn]

Because their purpose is to serve human life. The plan is for man to become like God. That's their deepest desire to be worshipped. Michael the archangel's name means' who is like God'. Who he is rebukes Satan.
They hate God because they have no place in heaven and now their ' time' is short. An eternal being bound by time. Thrown down to earth.

The angels that rebelled did so before man was created. Angels in heaven won't be 'serving' us. Whatever works God has us to do, angels will be co-workers, part of the team, not servants.
Currently they may act as guides or protectors in some cases, at some times, but that is just until this age is over.

 

[A_Thinker]

What made them go from bad, to worse, to even worse?

Perhaps they are not all "so evil", ... as we typically view evil.

The scriptures reference the angels that left their first estate (i.e. position and service to God) ...

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

It very well may be true that, even as we see among our own fellow humans, ... that there are, for instance, some "very evil" examples, ... while many more are content to simply NOT follow God, ... whatever the consequences ...

 

[d taylor]

Do you think Jesus will forgive the demons and welcome them back into heaven?

Demons can not be forgiven as they are the offspring of fallen angels. That is why they believe and tremble

 

[enoob57]

God has used creation to heighten our, that which has been created, understanding of His Awesomeness Romans 1:18-22... it appears also the same with Angels as Lucifer was created with great gifts and abilities in the throne room of God Ezekiel 28:14-19 Isaiah 14:12-15 . It was because he turned that which was given him toward himself then returning it to God for the purpose stated above... A third of God's angels believed his lie that he could be god
Isaiah 14:13-14 (KJV)

[13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

[14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Revelation 12:4 (KJV)

[4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

As the angels followed satan then... there is nothing in God's Word that tells us they quit...

 

[Bob Crowley]

I've found a book "Interview with an Exorcist" by Fr. Jose Fortea to be helpful in this sort of topic.

In his first question "1. What is a demon?" he answered partly as follows -

"Demons were not created evil. (In fact, it is impossible for God, who is Goodness itself, to create anything evil.) Remember: demons are just "bad angels". After God created the angels, He tested their fidelity to Him before admitting them to the Beatific Vision, the sight of His very essence. For purely spiritual beings, this "seeing" of God's essence would be a purely intellectual vision. Some angels obeyed the divine test: others did not. Those who disobeyed were irreversibly transformed into demons and cast out of heaven.

It may seem surprising that some angels would choose to hate God. But we need to understand that those who rebelled saw God no longer as a good - as the Good - but as the oppressor of their freedom. Hate was born as their wills resisted the call of God and held fast to the decision to leave the Father's house.

... The interior loneliness in which they find themselves forever and their envy of the faithful who enjoy the Beatific Vision continually bring them face-to-face with their sins. They hate God, themselves, and all those who seek to serve God."

That's how Hell started. As their hatred grew. they wanted nothing more than to shut out the very last vestige of the sight of God. So they created a place of abject darkness, turned in on itself in an unrelenting avalanche of evil and increasing hatred. As CS Lewis wrote, the gates of hell are locked on the inside.