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Demons in Religion
- By Jillian Reid
- Published 06/21/2008
- Demons and Religion
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Jillian Reid
An experience Paranormal Investigator and author of spirituality, the paranormal and the supernatural.
View all articles by Jillian Reid
Demons in Religion -
Throughout the ages, religion has defined how demons are defined and viewed in cultures all over the world. In most cultures, demons are evil beings intent on corrupting men and women, leading them off the path of goodness and causing misery. While many religions define their own demons, Christianity has always been notorious for demonizing the deities of other religions. Many of the demons named in the Bible, for instance, were actually the gods worshipped by other tribes and nations. Amon, as an example, was said to have all knowledge of the past and future, and employs forty legions of demons. Amon may have originally been Amun-Ra, one of the primary gods of Egyptian mythology.
Demons and Possession -
In Christian tradition, demons are servants of Satan. It is their job to lead good people astray and torment them, leading them away from God and to Satan. They accomplish this in many ways, sometimes taking on the form of a human to make bargains with people, or lead them into temptation. At their most hostile, demons are believed to enter into people and take over their bodies, possessing
them physically. When a person is possessed, the only remedy is to exorcise the demon, commanding them to leave the body in the name of Jesus. Most Christian religions have a ritual of exorcism to be used in casting demons out of people whom they have possessed.
Demons at Work in the World -
Many religions teach that all the evils and ills in the world are the work of demons. War, disease, pestilence, greed and conflict of all kinds are caused by demons making mischief and misery in an attempt to challenge men's faith in their gods, or just to bring misery to mankind.
While the belief in demons has waned in the past century or so, it has not waned quite so much as the media would have us believe. A 2005 survey conducted by Gallup showed that nearly 45% absolutely believe in demons, and an additional 23% believe that demons probably exist. An additional 22% believe that demons probably don't exist, but might, and only 12% of those surveyed believe that demons absolutely don't exist.
In addition, the survey found that more frequent attendance at church correlated with stronger belief in demons. Nearly 60% of those who believe that demons absolutely do exist attend church at least once a week.
Throughout the ages, religion has defined how demons are defined and viewed in cultures all over the world. In most cultures, demons are evil beings intent on corrupting men and women, leading them off the path of goodness and causing misery. While many religions define their own demons, Christianity has always been notorious for demonizing the deities of other religions. Many of the demons named in the Bible, for instance, were actually the gods worshipped by other tribes and nations. Amon, as an example, was said to have all knowledge of the past and future, and employs forty legions of demons. Amon may have originally been Amun-Ra, one of the primary gods of Egyptian mythology.
Demons and Possession -
In Christian tradition, demons are servants of Satan. It is their job to lead good people astray and torment them, leading them away from God and to Satan. They accomplish this in many ways, sometimes taking on the form of a human to make bargains with people, or lead them into temptation. At their most hostile, demons are believed to enter into people and take over their bodies, possessing
Demons at Work in the World -
Many religions teach that all the evils and ills in the world are the work of demons. War, disease, pestilence, greed and conflict of all kinds are caused by demons making mischief and misery in an attempt to challenge men's faith in their gods, or just to bring misery to mankind.
While the belief in demons has waned in the past century or so, it has not waned quite so much as the media would have us believe. A 2005 survey conducted by Gallup showed that nearly 45% absolutely believe in demons, and an additional 23% believe that demons probably exist. An additional 22% believe that demons probably don't exist, but might, and only 12% of those surveyed believe that demons absolutely don't exist.
In addition, the survey found that more frequent attendance at church correlated with stronger belief in demons. Nearly 60% of those who believe that demons absolutely do exist attend church at least once a week.