Another extremely difficult subject to write about.
The reason I believe it is a difficult subject to discuss is because, like so many other things, it deals with something that is a matter of "belief." If you do not believe in heaven or hell, God or satan, angels or demons, etc.....then this is a relatively absurd question. Logically, if you do not believe in demons, then obviously you do not believe in demon possession.
On the other hand, however, if you do believe in the existence of "demons," then you either believe that demon possession is possible or it is not. Believing in the existence demons does not automatically mean that a person believes that a human being can be "possessed" by them. Obviously, however, a person needs to have a personal belief in the existence of demons in order to formulate an opinion either way.
There is always a third category of people who either don't know or who don't care. While I would not put myself in the category of those who don't care, I most certainly cannot put myself in the category of those who absolutely believe without a doubt in the existence of demons. However, I am willing to remain open to the possibility that it might be true, And, as far as "demon possession" is concerned, I don't think I believe in such a possibility at all.
When I say I don't believe in demon possession, what I really mean is that I do not believe that demons can take up residence inside a person's body and "possess" them from the inside out, so to speak. I am open to the idea of demonic forces controlling a person's thoughts and desires to the point where that person no longer has control over their own lives. But, I reject the notion of demons living on the inside of a person's body.
I believe that a person can "listen to" and give in to the suggestions and instructions of demonic forces for so long, year after year, that they practically become like a marionette without a decision-making will of its own. I believe that a person can have given in to demonic influence in their life so often--so easily--and for so long, that they can no longer tell the difference between their own thoughts and desires and the "tempting" ideas put into their minds by the demons.
I see demonic influence a lot like the way some unhealthy habit is formed in a person's life--like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol or something. When a person first starts smoking cigarettes, they are more or less consciously aware of their decision to light one up. It is legitimately an act of their own will to put a cigarette in their mouth and smoke it. However, after many years of smoking, they reach the point where they smoke cigarettes, one right after the other, without even thinking about it anymore.
This is a rough idea of how I see demonic influence. At first, demonically-inspired behavior in a person is an act of their own willful decision to give in to the thoughts, feelings and desires planted in their minds by demons. But, after many years of giving in to these influences, all resistance to demonic influence is eventually broken down and the person gives themselves over to the influence as if the thoughts, feelings, and desires were their own.
I don't see this as "demon possession," but rather as "demonic control." I also will concede that it does not necessarily take years and years for such demonic influence to take control over the thoughts, feelings, and desires of a person. I think it all depends on the strength of an individual's will, as well as their moral and ethical viewpoint towards the world outside themselves. But, in any case, I still do not see it as demons going inside a person's body and taking up residence there.
But, as I stated at the beginning of this article, all this is merely a matter of personal belief. These are all things I "believe." They are not things that I know for a fact or even CAN know for a fact. I am sure that many of you who believe in the existence of demons believe completely different than me about this subject. My intent here is not to convince you or even persuade you to believe as I do. I have only asked a question and then given an answer based on my own personal belief.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 48
As far as demon possession: that has always been a difficult one to explain because possession has been said to be that the demon goes inside the person. I have never understood how this can be possible. It does make sense the way you have stated it, though I don't think I could have said it so well in so few words as you. The cigerrette analogy is an excellent one. I have seen people with one in their hand or ash tray and light up another. It has become so automatic, without thought.
Now, I have seen the effect of angels acting for people. I have seen the effects of demons influencing, 'possessing', people who want to give in to the evil desires the demons promote.
I could give instances of what I have seen and heard, but suffice it to say, to me demons and angels are real. And demons do influence some as though they are inside and in total control.
I cannot prove any of this any more than just relating what the Bible says. If one believes the Bible, then it may be possible for them to believe me.
I never thought about making the distinction between "demon possession"and "demonic control" before.
I firmly believe in demonic control, which I have always referred to demonic possession.
No, I do not believe that a demon actually resides within someone, as a demon is not an actual physical being. Rather, a demon is a spiritual being and, thus, is not confined by the physical limitations that we are subject to.
I believe that once a demon finds someone who gives in to early temptations, it stays with that person to further tempt and ultimately take control over that person's mind.
That's what I usually refer to as "demonic possession".
I was in the room when his pastor commanded them out, too, and was amazed at the change that came over him afterwards.
The realm believed most real by most people is that OUTside of them, that of the physical like they perceive their own body, via the 5 objective senses ... in that outer Macrocosmic realm there are things like insects, reptiles and animals that are sometimes feared, but there are ways to isolate and protect ones self from them ...
Demons, on the other hand, are then internal entities, subjective, because even if perceived to be outside of us, very rare, they do us no harm there, needing to enter within our psyche to terrorise us from within ... as a very negative spiritual entity ...
In being thus so subjective, it then is a figment of our mind and the question then becomes, the one most important, which came first, the demon or the thought ??
Because I do not believe that God is "Good" as in (+) and that opposed to a "bad" that is negative (-) as in a dichotomy or duality (+/-) where there is an ongoing conflict between the two, like a heaven and a hell ... God and Satan or God and the Devil ... God against anything ... NO NO NO !!!
My God is PERFECT and that means COMPLETE IN ALL WAYS ... a perfect BALANCE of ALL (+) AND (-) ... heavy on the INclusivity of the word AND.
As I said earlier, God is the TOTAL of ALL, a (+) ONLY IN COMPARISON to the (-) AND THAT CONNECTIVE via the SPIRIT as (=) ... the TOTALITY being a TRINITY as (+=-).
Thus IF God is (+), it is only a relative relationship to creation as the (-) and IS INterconnective as SPIRIT (=) ... (+=-) being the totality of Trinity and God overall plus the parts.
Using all of the above information then, God is balanced and neutral as is the Spirit of God ... man then is a mix of (+) and (-) who decides in his or her mind which, as the ego sees things ... the ego always seeks what it thinks to be best for it ... not always what God might prefer IF God had a preference, which God does not, but normal ego man has been taught to think by his religions that there are really only two choices in life, that between the good (+) and the bad (-) ... God and Demons ... God and Hell where Demons exist and come from.
The REAL TRUTH though of the Trinity (+=-) allows us to have a relationship with all other, even our opposite via the Spirit of God who would be right in between whatever we deemed ourselves to be (+) OR (-) OR a Balance like Spirit is (=) ...
With that truth in mind we would have no fear nor concerns for anything, especially demons because Spirit would be between us, allowing us to befriend each other (+=-) and even love each other because Spirit IS LOVE as is God.
Bottom line, the ONLY DEMONS of consequence are then only those we ourselves make up in mind for ourselves, by thinking that things are dualistic (+/-) ... which they are NOT.
Things are Trinity (+=-) thus there is always LOVE between all differences and nothing to fear ... because Love displaces Fear as does Light related to Darkness and the Energy that makes it happen is the Spirit (=) of God (+=-) because God is ALL (+=-) thus all potentials (+) AND (-) COME FROM GOD and END BACK AT GOD ...
Thus (again) IF YOU KNOW GOD you have NO DEMONS and NO FEAR ... all else that we make up in mind separate from God as either a (+) or a (-) are but constructs of the imbalance of our minds and thus are NOT REAL ... being only our unbalanced thoughts.
There is but ONE GOD who IS THE 1 ... all else are UNDER GOD as fractional parts as a balance of x's, an equal number of +x's and -x's as in 1/xxxxx's which when BALANCED OUT, also in the realization that there are equal amounts of (+) and (-), it will be found that they cancel themselves out and become either 1 or 0 ... depending upon your perspective.
ANYWAY ... this has been another late night mind fart ... and I suspect few have read it through to the end and fewer have understood it ... but it is the truth as far as I know and really worth understanding UNLESS of course YOU PREFER good +x gods and bad -x gods (Demons) to scare the crap out of you so that you can seek through your religion the good +x god to be your SAVIOUR ... meaning that Christ is but a +x god in conflict wit Satan a -x god (all less than big G God being at best little g god(s)) ...
THUS ALL YOU REALLY EVER NEED TO BE FREE AND HAPPY IS THE SPIRIT (=) OF GOD (+=-) TO RELATE TO ...
Nite Nite ... :-) sweet dreams no more nightmares also ... :-)
However, I believe that others believe in them and so they are in danger of possession or control. I do believe in the power of the mind to create the IDEA of possession. If one believes in curses or demons or voodoo then those things might have power over them. So I guess I am saying what Jerry was saying, just a little shorter and without the pluses and minuses.
If you believe in demons then you will be vulnerable to their impact. If you don't believe in them, then you don't believe in them. Belief is needed first.
Does "evil" exist? People choose to do "evil" things. But I do not believe that something or someone is inherently "evil". That's my view... Have a "demon-free" day!
If you don't believe in demon possession how can you believe in the Bible?
Jesus Himself drove a legend of demons OUT OF one man and they all ran into a pig which jumped off a cliff into the water and drowned.
The only ones that demons CAN NOT "possess" is the ones who have Jesus as their personal saviour. Praise God!
By the way, when a person becomes saved do you believe that at that instant the Holy Spirit comes into that persons heart? If you do, then doesn't it make sense that demons too can enter a person's body as does the Holy Spirit?
UpScaleInteriorDesigns.com
*************************************************
That is what demon possession actually is......controlling someone and if it is their mind that is being taken over then their body follows so what about possessing a body is unclear?
I truly believe that IF you believe in God then you also believe in Satan, and if you believe in good then you believe in bad and evil verus heavenly etc....
Thus God spoke of the man who was "demon possessed" and so it does exist and does happen, many actual cases have been documented of people possessed by demons and then saved from them as well by the word of God.
Remember Life does NOT imitate art but rather like the Excorsist---Art imitates LIFE.
I saw a man possessed by a demon---and so have many of you too and just either didn't realize it or confused it with somethign else like mental illness........
Ted Bundy was demon possessed.....and if you SAW TB on TV then you witnessed a man possessed by a demon........The "Night Stalker" Richard Rameriz is also demon possessed....and if you have seen him then you have seen a man possessed by a demon.
The Vatican has documented cases of excosisums done on people by the Pope---at last count they would only acknowledge 6 cases of demon possessed people they drove the demon out of--the files are sealed for the victims protection.....but they happened.
Unfortunately I have met someone demon possessed...even though the man that killed my sister and almost me could have quilified...he was not demon possessed--just an evil, sick human.....so there is a distinct difference and trust me once you SEE a human possessed by a demon you will live with nightmares for the rest of your life-----it is a very scary sight and attacks all your senses, and permeates your clothing and everything around them and it is somethign you NEVER forget, ever.
Demon possession exists and is very real and happens more then we will acknowledge or accept, which is why so many are susceptible to being possessed by a demon[s] or spirit[s] becuase they refuse to SEE the truth and agree that evil can take many forms and can also take over and take out, lives as well.
It is thus that we do create our own realities by the power inherited from God whether we believe it or not ... what we see is what we get ... but seeing is really more subjective and thought influenced than is objective reality ... the Subjective (thought) IS a=priori to the Objective(manifestation) which is a-posteriori.
IMnsHO.
One mans trash may be another's treasure ... one persons faith in light may be no more powerful in their experience of love than the fear experienced by faith in the darkness of the other ... different strokes for different folks ... to each their own. IMnsHO
Put me in the row of those who are skeptics.
I can do without your' preaching, okay. Berf asked a question and I commented from my personal experience. Give your' take on the issue and don't be babbling spiritual platitudes at me.
You have your' opinion and I have mine.
Eshu is a trickster-god, and plays frequently tempting choices for the purpose of causing maturation.
Personally, I am having trouble with the initial question of, "Where do demons live?" If a demon cannot possess a person, but can completely make that person their puppet, then what is the difference? And what does it mean to "take up residence" in a person? To do so would imply that a demon is NOT a physical being, but a spiritual one, and as such would not need "residence" in anyone or anything physical. So whether the influence is complete from within or without would seem to me to be academic.
Btw, i wonder how many people who say they believe in Demons and have seen them would also say that they believe in Angels and have seen them too?
Anyway ... interesting topic BERF. Since God claims in the Bible that He had no beginning, it only makes sense to m that He has many creations. This universe and His plan for man is special; but any other creations would also be special due to His character. I think it easy to believe that there could be disembodied spirits that for some reason currently have certain freedoms to be used by God. If spirit, then they couldn't operate in our universe on the physical level unless they used anothers body.
There is nothing in the Bible that indicates fallen angels are demons. I accept them as two separate creations. He tells us something of the fall of angels but nothing about the origin of demons.
I do believe in demon possession which apparently happens when a demon has great control over ones body. Demon control can vary from one person to the other. We don't actually have enough facts to be dogmatic about one vrs the other.
I do notice that very often demonic control appears to be somewhat different today than it was in the days of Jesus. My guess is simply that the demons are smart enough to know what is most effective. (affective ? :) Perhaps it worked better to use fear to work their plan in Biblical days; and maybe in less educated society. Not sure. But they seem to often want to operate under cover today. Perhaps because communication is much greater today and if their presense were over displayed TV & radio would pick up the problem and generate interest and instructions on how to overcome demonic power. All guess work of course.
I have been present during an exorcism but it was not sensational at all. The mans life changed.
"Satan, who was once the angel Lucifer, rebelled against God and fell from heaven (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28), one third of the angelic host joined his insurrection (Revelation 12:3-4,9). There is no doubt these fallen angels are now known as the demons.
We know that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, according to 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.'" Jesus, by using the possessive word his makes it clear that these angels belong to Satan. Revelation 12:7-9 describes an end-times angelic battle between Michael and "his angels" and the devil and "his angels." From these and similar verses, it is clear that demons and fallen angels are synonymous."
http://www.gotquestions.org/fallen-angels.html
King Saul was demon possessed to the point that his' whole personality would change and in this state of possession he would try to kill David. 1 Samuel 16:14-15; 18:10-11; 19:9-10
People in other cultures like Hatti are taught demon possesion, what one would look, and act like when possessed, and have had this demonstrated to them from birth.
I'd say there was some influence alright, but it was not demonic. It was taught through example of their parents, and fellow citizens.
I have never heard about Angel possession, so I have to wonder about Demon possession.
I have to agree that if they both exist, then they could both try to influence us in good or bad ways.
Though out history, most of what was called demonic possession, was most likely mental illness.
I noticed BERF that you mentioned the six senses, but you left out the 7th. Why is that?
Personally, I believe that your explanations are far too simplistic, and that you make them too convoluted in order to be impressive, but I do think that you have a very interesting thought process going on within you.
I have to respect much of what has been said here by others, because all personal truths deserve that respect, and all personal truths are apt to change -- as only true TRUTH shall stand in the end. . . .
But as Glome inferred, if I refuse to see other points of view and hear other truths, and only rely on my own limited experiences, I miss out on a great deal of what experiencing life is all about. Seeing through the eyes of others is in and of itself a learning experience that I would not want to miss out on.
One thing that was mentioned by Glome too, that is worthy of note, is that too many people get "puffed up" by their own limited understandings. By saying that people do not understand what you are trying to get across BERF, you underestimate people's intelligence levels.
It is obvious to me that everyone responding to your Article is highly intelligent in their own right by the grace of God and none other.
I have so much to say in response to this Article, but I'll come back as I do not want to make this comment too long. ~ lol
Blessings ~
Rene
Many people believe they have seen angels as actual beings or forms of energy but few admit to seeing demons on such a regular basis, we create our own demons and that is enough, God gave us free will to believe in what we want so this sa my humble opinion.
Thanks for your response, but actually, if you'll notice, none of the verses you quote, although certainly proof that many of the angels fell, have anything to do with demons. It is a conclusion people jump to without realizing it.
I love all your comments ... just disagree with you that God has given any explanation of demons and their origin.
Peck was a well-known psychiatrist who canvassed other psychiatrists and asked them to refer cases of demonic possession to him. It's a fascinating read.