Demons - real or not?

[Miss Babbit]

p.s.

I think that the decrease in exorcisms and increase in the use of psychiatry, pharmaceuticals and hospital stays is not merely a coincidence.
We no longer use men of God to cast out demons but we use psychiatrists instead.
It's controversial to link mental health with demons, the last couple of hundred years we have been told to sever the link and not to "demonise" these disorders.
It's funny we keep getting told not to demonise mental illness or demonise sufferers.

Well as a person who has struggled with anxiety and depression all her life, who has unsuccessfully been on and off medication, seen dozens of therapists (some of the best in London) ONLY FAITH CURES.

I am no authority but after decades of personal experience, demon oppression and possession is everywhere! Look at the statistics for depression, suicide, drug addiction, alcoholism and personality disorders.
Demonic possession and oppression is doing a roaring trade in the twenty first century.

Everyone thought that medicalising it all would help. It's had the opposite effect. The world has done its best to remove God and let science play god.
I have spoken to psychiatrists and they admit that not only can they not cope with the mental health crisis we are having in the Western world but with some disorders they do not have a clue how to treat. They just write scripts and throw pills at people and hope they'll work.

The irony about no longer "demonising" mental illness when it is probably contributed to by demons in the first place.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

I don't believe demon-possession still exists today. We read in Hebrews 2:3-4 that the God used signs and wonders and various miracles to testify to the apostolic ministry, affirming that the message they spoke really came from God. Since it is no longer needed, demon possession has since ceased, as well as other various miracles that they use to perform in the Holy Spirit.

It still exists today. Exorcisms are still done in The Eastern Orthodox Church :

 

[JackRT]

p.s.

I think that the decrease in exorcisms and increase in the use of psychiatry, pharmaceuticals and hospital stays is not merely a coincidence.
We no longer use men of God to cast out demons but we use psychiatrists instead.
It's controversial to link mental health with demons, the last couple of hundred years we have been told to sever the link and not to "demonise" these disorders.
It's funny we keep getting told not to demonise mental illness or demonise sufferers.

Well as a person who has struggled with anxiety and depression all her life, who has unsuccessfully been on and off medication, seen dozens of therapists (some of the best in London) ONLY FAITH CURES.

I am no authority but after decades of personal experience, demon oppression and possession is everywhere! Look at the statistics for depression, suicide, drug addiction, alcoholism and personality disorders.
Demonic possession and oppression is doing a roaring trade in the twenty first century.

Everyone thought that medicalising it all would help. It's had the opposite effect. The world has done its best to remove God and let science play god.
I have spoken to psychiatrists and they admit that not only can they not cope with the mental health crisis we are having in the Western world but with some disorders they do not have a clue how to treat. They just write scripts and throw pills at people and hope they'll work.

The irony about no longer "demonising" mental illness when it is probably contributed to by demons in the first place.

Twenty years ago my youngest daughter went through a period of severe mental illness that manifested itself in terrifying psychotic episodes. Terrifying to both her and her parents. The worst of them involved her attacking me with a knife and in a nearly successful suicide attempt. To someone in the first century, I am sure they would have called it demonic possession. What it was is a chemical imbalance in the brain and the problem was solved through psychiatry and drugs. Today she is a wonderful woman ---educated, married, mother, excellent responsible job. I am so proud that she was able with help to overcome.

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

its kinda funny about how much media like movies shows games and videos not to mention the litany of personal experiences there are of demons yet people continue to scoff or ignore entirely at the idea of there being such a thing. honestly i dont understand how you can be a seasoned Christian and not know there exists a spiritual world with spiritual beings that live alongside us. regarding demonic possession that is almost always a result of dabbling in the occult and/or drug use.

For we wrestle Not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, Against Spiritual Wickedness In High Places.

• Ephisians 6:12

 

[Archivist]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

Of course demons are real--they are the sports teams at Northwestern State University.

 

[Swan7]

I don' t need to read an article to see if demons are real as Jesus has cast them out and His apostles. The Jews tried to cast out demons "in this man's name", but they failed to do so because they didn't believe in Jesus Christ. Demon possession still happens today and certainly demon oppression.

 

[DamianWarS]

Have you tried to cast out demons in Jesus name? Mark Karris makes the point that while people are happy to say they believe in them, they do not act as if they believe by actually trying to cast them out.

I think the problem is discernment of what is a demon and what is not and typically our go-to answer would be not with some rational explanation. But this rationalization of everything is a western way of thinking that the whole world doesn't agree on.

I've lived in places where everything is the direct result of the spirit world and if a branch breaks off a tree their first reaction would but that it was a demon who caused it where my first reaction would be to go to the tree, investigate it so that I may find the cause of why it fell down and probably later find a rational explanation to which I am convinced with and close the matter.

I'm not saying the devil is hiding under every rock but more that our inexperience with casting demons out in Jesus's name may be because we never see a demon and our cultural desire to rationalize everything strongly influences this inability to see the spiritual working.

 

[RaymondG]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

I feel this is much like asking if Hell is real..... They are many interpretations of hell. There are more than one interpretation of a demon...... So I cant answer unless I know what your interpretation of a demon is. I wont just assume you are talking about invisible green goblins, as the mature may find that offensive.....

 

[Petros2015]

The worst of them involved her attacking me with a knife and in a nearly successful suicide attempt. To someone in the first century, I am sure they would have called it demonic possession. What it was is a chemical imbalance in the brain and the problem was solved through psychiatry and drugs.

I think it's possible that both perspectives may be true. In the same way that someone on PCP may 'open the door' to demonic influence, it is my opinion that non-voluntary chemical imbalances in the brain might also leave someone more vulnerable. I don't believe that mental illness is the same as demonic oppression or possession; I do think it's possible that it might leave a person a bit more vulnerable, rather like a suppressed immune system. The right drugs and 21st century treatment could improve that situation, and the wrong ones could probably worsen it.

This is just my opinion. I do take anti-depressants and have taken anti-psychotics in the past. I'm in AA and we are familiar with 'blackouts' where we don't remember doing things, so there's always a question of just who is running the bus at those moments. I had a couple of very scary moments where I believe something else came through me, and it was not friendly. I would describe it as 'pure', and the people around me were in danger.

We have an acronym for Ego in AA. It is Edging God Out.

From my experience, nature abhors a vacuum.

 

[Cis.jd]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

I still can't rationalize the existence of Satan and demons (fallen angels). Out of every theological topic, it's Satan and demons that makes 0 sense to me.

Here is my ideas on demons.

I think that it is possible that demons are the spirits of bad people and the spirits of the fallen angels who have died (i'll explain the angel part later). These souls can't or refuse to be with God and because of that their souls are corrupt and full of rage.

2nd. I think it's possible that fallen angels could be the aliens. These angels are now bound to the laws of the Universe (they are not in heaven anymore) which means they are now matter (physical body) and mortal. Their physical appearance are aliens, and they don't have supernatural powers anymore. They have to rely on their own technologies (ufo's) and political influence (illuminati).. and when they die their spirits roam as demonic spirits? The Nephilim (their offspring) could be the Hindu and pagan gods too.

 

[Yarddog]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

Real.

 

[devin553344]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

It depends. For instance, demonic possession is real if properly identified. But schizophrenia, which was mistaken as demonic possession for years, however is not demonic possession. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder of imbalance in brain chemistry. Schizophrenia can look a lot like demonic possession due to the individual religious beliefs of the schizophrenic manifesting in their conscious and subconscious mind.

 

[Great_Depression]

Well the word "demon" or "demons" does not appear in the Geneva or King James Version of the bible. Where other (newer) bibles use the word demon or demons they use "devil" or "devils" with a lowercase d.

A devil is most likely what we call a demon. I just thought it was interesting to point that out as I had not seen it yet.

 

[A Realist]

To someone in the first century, I am sure they would have called it demonic possession.

And apparently to some in the 21st century.

 

[Kaon]

Have you tried to cast out demons in Jesus name? Mark Karris makes the point that while people are happy to say they believe in them, they do not act as if they believe by actually trying to cast them out.

My family did.

If you have to ask whether demons are real, that is fortunate for you. The issue is black and white; no one that has come across a demon doubts the existence of that reality. At least, they shouldn't doubt, but humans are organized on doubt.

 

[Kaon]

Well the word "demon" or "demons" does not appear in the Geneva or King James Version of the bible. Where other (newer) bibles use the word demon or demons they use "devil" or "devils" with a lowercase d.

A devil is most likely what we call a demon. I just thought it was interesting to point that out as I had not seen it yet.

Daemons etymology implies a neutral attribute to demons, as it means "wise spirit/a god."

People romanticized demons. But that is out of ignorance, or perversion. Demons trade a spec of otherworldly knowledge for the chance to inhabit a vessel even for a day.

 

[JacksBratt]

An article on whether demons are superstition or real. What do you think? Are they real?

Demons - real or not? : cruciformity

I found that reading through these post that it was very interesting to see what Christians believe, accept or write off as something not meant for our "times".

Demons did not "go away" when Christ died. There is lots of evidence and examples of real demonic possession even today.

If you really want to look into it... be careful, but.. Haiti is a country that has been in a contract with Satan and it just ended after a 200 year contract. How do I know... people at our church run a mission down there and there are many who have come to Christ. Demonic and Satanic events are very common and part of every day life. I will get you the name of a book that is very good for information of live in Haiti and a very good view of real demonic activity today... just in Haiti.. but it is everywhere.

 

[Not David]

Yes, the only Christians who doubt it are the Western Protestants of the "Enlightenment"

 

[Hillsage]

The best definition I believe for demons is they are disembodied evil spirits.

As for POSSESSION the church has a poor understanding. As for being "possessed by a demon", we were done a great disservice by the older bible versions which poorly interpreted the Greek word:

Strong's # 1139 daimonizomai : def; to be exercised by a demon

I can 'posses/own' a race horse, but when I ride him I only 'possess/control/exercise' him, with bit and bridle, until he decides NO. The same is true in the case of being 'demonized' or 'influenced by a demon', which is a better interpretation of the word than 'possessed'.

Possessed implys a totally 'owned/controlled by', but scripture declares only God to be the possessor of heaven and earth. But to be "exercised by a demon" can also fall under the application that one is allowing themselves to HAVE a demon as multiple scriptures state.

LUK 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had/echo the spirit of an unclean demon;
LUK 13:11 And there was a woman who had/echo a spirit of infirmity...
ACT 16:16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had/echo a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying.

Strong's # 2192 echo; to hold (used in various applications, lit. or fig. direct or remote; such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition)

In the above we can see that the 'person' truly had 'to hold' the demon and not vice versa. We yield to demonic influence. That influence can progress to the point of programing our brains to 'almost' total incapacitation.

NIV ISA 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

The "spirit of despair" is also understood to be the spirit of 'depression'. A mental condition brought about by a spirit tempting you with heaviness or 'depressing thoughts' of despair. Such thinking causes the brain to quit producing serotonin...the mood elevating hormone. Think depressing things and you will become depressed. Put on a garment of praise and your brain can only think of one thing at a time. It will then produce serotonin and not deplete it.

2TI 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Giving heed to deceitful spirits of despair and fear manifest in the brain as the un-sound mind of 'depression' and 'fear'.

1TI 4:1 ...giving heed/prosecho to deceitful spirits .....

337 prosecho: (fig.)to hold the mind towards, i.e.pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to

 

[Blade]

If we say "speaking in tongues" Christ said.. these sign shall follow/accompany them that believe.. whats the 1st one? CAST OUT demons. I really don't think they are gone They are always looking for a NEW HOME!

Can you be a Christian and have a demon. Yes.. its demonized. Be possessed? No..never. Possessed is the demon rules you controls you. This can not happen to a believer. You KNOW there are areas in our life that we sometimes have not given the holy spirit full control. It can happen when we keep walking in a sin...when we dont stop we dont repent. It can happen. Its like they latch on.. to that area if it makes sense. Its ok... most Christians.. forgive me move by what they can see and hear. They (demons) are very happy if we don't believe in them.

Like I said.. Christ or GOD told us.. these signs follow accompany those that believe.. cast out demons.. speak with new tongues..so forth so on.