This seems like my kinda place..

[BigNorsk]

Since we have a demonologist, I have to ask, what exactly is a demon?

Is it a fallen angel, or something else?

I'll start a different thread on the New Age thingy.

Marv

 

[94Preacher]

..

 

[BigNorsk]

aaarghhh! New thread now started.

 

[LilLamb219]

Yay! I'm so glad you're here!!! I've always been interested in the paranormal and in the past few years have been into it just to debunk what other people THINK is happening!! Yes, sometimes it involves demons, but sometimes things happen that can be easily explained!!!

I'd love to hear more some time!!

 

[94Preacher]

LilLamb219, I would be more than happy to attempt to answer any questions you might have or simply do a song and dance for any topic concerning the paranormal that peak your interest.

 

[BigNorsk]

Haha.. thats a good question, it's one I'll have to answer in a few months here when I speak at IPFW on the topic.

The simple answer is a Fallen Angel. That is the standard Christian view. It's what my experience has shown me as well.

Outside of Christianity the views would be anything from negative spiritual energies/entities to cranky dead people that need to be led to the "light." Some views are that they are lesser deities that serve the purpose of generating chaos in order to keep the created system in a state of balance between Good and Evil or Positive/Negative (if you are one of those types that doesn't believe in absolute good or evil).

You could also go as far as to go the root of the term Demon (daimonia) from the Greek and look at how that culture viewed them. The Greeks considered demons to be either of good nature (eudaimon) or evil nature (kakodaimon) and they were mediators between human beings and the gods. They were in a sense lesser deities/spiritual beings similar to that of Angels/Demons in our system being lesser spiritual beings that are created.

So how about the bible verses that say they are chained up awaiting judgement, in 2 Peter and Jude?

Marv

 

[DaRev]

Well I contacted Rev. McCulley, hunted him down through the amazing powers of the intrawebz. So hopefully we can get our hands on some copies. I'll let you know if he gets back to me.

It appears that Rev McCulley is associated with the Christian Defense Ministries. Let me know if you hear back from him.

 

[94Preacher]

..

 

[BigNorsk]

I understand the dance. The only people I know who seem really certain are the full gospel people who claim to actually physically see demons everywhere in large numbers. Especially filling the rafters of any church that doesn't agree with them.

They seem very certain, me, I'm not so certain. Kind of like you.

Marv

 

[94Preacher]

..

 

[LilLamb219]

Very true about those extremes! You'll find them here on the Christian Forums throughout as well!

Yes, demons are unpleasant, but sometimes they trick people into thinking otherwise...like the people who believe old grandpa has returned from the dead to communicate with them. Grandpa just can't be an evil demon!

Well we have two extremes in this country/Christianity. Those who don't believe in Satan or demons and those who think everything is caused by demons. You know the type, if your computer is running slow it has a demon. If you take naps in the afternoon you have a demon of laziness haha. They seem to forget that we as human beings, being sinful, are plenty capable of making bad decisions without a demon yacking in our ear. Of course there are the middle grounders such as myself and those who simply want nothing to do with the topic haha.

What I do know is that according to the Scriptures there are demons out and about in the world. In my work I've encountered them on several occasions. They aren't pleasant. But as for how many are out there, how involved they are in the goings on of the world, what their true names are, why some are out and others are not, I don't know. And I'm certainly not going to ask them, not that they'd tell the truth anyways haha. If God wanted us to know, it would be in the Book. All we know is that when they do pop up, we have authority through Christ to cast them out.

 

[synger]

Welcome to CF, and to TCL!

 

[DaRev]

Rev, I'll let you know. I'll also dig around at the Seminary next week when classes start and see if I can find anything there.

Check in the library there. You never know. They may have one floating around.

 

[synger]

Welcome to the forum.

There is a booklet that is floating around that you may be interested in. I believe it was originally written as part of a master's thesis. The writer is Darrell McCulley, a former student at Concordia St. Louis. It's called "The House Swept Clean." I'm not sure how to go about finding one. I think it was originally printed by the CSL print shop and was sold in the campus bookstore. You might try contacting the sem there and see if it can be had. If you do happen to come across a copy, let me know. I'd love to have one.

I did some research on him. It's out of print, but you may be able to request a copy from him directly. Here's the "about Darrel McCulley" page on his Web site.

About Darrell Arthur McCulley Christian Defense Ministries

and here's the Contact Us page, where you can send him a note.

Contact Us Christian Defense Ministries