Paranormal Encounters: An historic look at the concept of evil spirits and demons.
"And I summoned again to stand before me Beelzeboul, the prince of demons, and I sat him down on a raised seat of honour, and said to him: "Why art thou alone, prince of the demons?" And he said to me: "Because I alone am left of the angels of heaven that came down. For I was first angel in the first heaven, being entitled Beelzeboul. And now I control all who are bound in Tartarus . . . "
I Solomon said unto him: "Beelzeboul, what is thy employment?" And he answered me: "I destroy kings. I ally myself with foreign tyrants. And my own demons I set on to men, in order that the latter may believe in them and be lost. And the chosen servants of God, priests and faithful men, I excite unto desires for wicked sins, and evil heresies, and lawless deeds; and they obey me, and I bear them on to destruction. And I inspire men with envy, and murder, and for wars and sodomy, and other evil things. And I will destroy the world . . . "
I said to him: "Tell me by what angel thou art frustrated." And he answered: "By the holy and precious name of the Almighty God, called by the Hebrews by a row of numbers, of which the sum is 644, and among the Greeks it is Emmanuel. And if one of the Romans adjure me by the name of the power Eleêth, I disappear at once."
-- Testament of Solomon, first century AD, translated by F. C. Coynbeare
Few paranormal topics invoke more passion and controvery than the subject of "demons." Also spelled "daemon" and "daimon", mention of this entity can be found, in some form, on every continent of the globe. Nearly every culture, civilized and savage alike holds a belief in some form of malevolent "spirit" or force, whose purpose is to torment humanity and oppose "God" or the innate goodness of the world.
Some scholars define demons as a man-made concept which serves several purposes. A foul creature of our own making, demons serve to torment us, a just punishment for some wrong doing. Others feel that in order to validate the existence of God, we must have a Devil. And if God has Angels, then surely the Devil has his own followers, demons. Yet, others believe demons to the spiritual and sometimes, physical manifestation of "evil." As real as any person, but devoid of any signs of "humanity."
From the most ancient recorded texts to modern day "Hollywood," few subjects have sparked more controversy than that of demons. Throughout recorded history theologians, philosophers, practitioners and clergy have debated the existence of "evil spirits." Attempts to validate, or debunk, these "beings" often leave us with mixed results ranging from disappointment to emotional and spiritual scarring. Are demons real? And if so, just what are these beings and what agenda do they serve?
Although the concept of this evil entity is very old, the use of the word "demon" isn't. The word actually derives from a Greek word "daio", meaning "to come between" or "Lesser than the Gods, greater than Man."
Earliest recorded history makes mention of the existence of demons. Cuneiform hieroglyphics found in the regions of Babylon and ancient Assyria make numerous references to deities, who's natures are contrary to that of a benevolent God or Gods. Among the tablets of the Avesta, the Holy Book of Zoroastrianism, demons were mentioned by both name and type. Udukku, Ecimmu, and Maskimmu are examples of the ethereal spirits recognized in the Avesta.
The early Semitic culture mentions the existence of "Genii" and even the later and relatively enlightened cultures of Greece and ancient Rome recognized the existence of "evil spirits" possessing the abilities to manipulate Man and in some cases, confront Man in a physical manner. A disciple of Plato named Apuleuis warned his own students of demons, not as a philosophical ideal, but a "living force invading and corrupting the domain of Man." From Africa to the Siberian tundra, shaman have taught that "spirits" walk among us, some with tutorial intentions, seeking only to teach, protect and guide us, while others sought only to sew dissension and strife.
Demons have been accused of perpetuating every imaginable crime against humanity including that which is considered most heinous, "possession." From physical assault, to lustful and murderous temptations, to bewilderment and causing nightmares, demons have allegedly assailed mankind from earliest recorded time.
In the Christian belief, demons are indeed Fallen Angels and an important antagonist of Mankind. Satanwas considered a "demon" as evidenced by The New Testament Books of Luke, 2 chapter verse 19 and Luke chapter 11, verses 11-18. Demons appear throughout both the Old and New Testament, tormenting Man, only to give way when confronted by God or His agents. In fact, the Church has long held the existence of demons as a "truth" although the exact nature of these beings has been hotly debated over the years.
And just as the clergy and laypersons have strived to understand this "Enemy of God and Man," others have sought them out in order to harness the perceived "great power" of these beings. In 1206, the outstanding teacher/philosopher, Albertus Magnus said of Demonology, "It was written by demons, about demons and will ultimately lead one to demons. God help us all."
Many sociologists and behavioral scientist claim that the beliefs in demons stem from a primitive mindset, in which people need a "reason" to blame for the ills of the world. The thought is that by laying responsibility on devils and demons, we can unshoulder the personal blame or responsibility for our actions or tribulations. Other "learned people" further claim that the notion of evil spirits was perpetrated by the early Christian Church in an attempt to subjugate and intimidate an ignorant and superstitious people. They point to several facts in order to support this theory, two of which may indeed, facilitate the claim.
Although the concept of demons existed long before the Christian Church, it wasn't until 1589 that a Jesuit monk named Peter Bensfield created an actual Hierarchy of demons, listing them by name and by the sins that they governed. This list is commonly referred to as the 7 Deadly Sins and gives the names of the Greater demons that hold sway of each of them.
This effort was followed by a second "list" created in 1608 by Father Mario Buazzo and another in 1612 by Sebastian Michaelio, that refined the list and attributes of the lesser and greater demons. Of course, no explanation was ever given for the invention of these lists or from whence came this divine information.
In more modern times, so severe was the problem of demons, the Church invoked methods especially designed to confront and banish evil spirits. These "exorcisms" are highly controversial, yet despite the opposition from "learned circles," Churches of nearly every denomination continue to practice this "demon purge." It's interesting to note that many other religions have similar ceremonies for ridding people of these mysterious entities.
As with most controversial subjects, demons made their way to Hollywood. The best known of all demon movies was "The Exorcist." Reputedly based on a true story, it chronicles the demonic possession of a young girl and the ensuing efforts of the Clergy, to exorcise this foul creature. A decade after the making of that movie, a priest from the New York Diocese came forward to support the facts presented in the story, saying he had been directly involved in the original exorcism. Shortly after, he was "transferred" by the Bishop to "parts unknown."
Another Hollywood effort was the "Amityville Horror." So successful was this movie, it spawned a host of sequels...4 to date, I think. It, too, was supposedly constructed around a "true" story. "Poltergeist" was another movie offering, playing on the theme of the demonic entity preying on a young child.
In literature, books on demons and "demonology" can be found in bookstores and libraries, by the hundreds. The Necronomicon, a reputed "how to conjure a demon" text, written by an ancient Persian mystic, was a "best seller" after its re-release in the 1980s. Other books, written by "paranormal investigators" or respected members of the various religious factions, can be found on the same shelves.
I suppose the most chilling thing about the issue of demons may be the depths of the convictions of the believers. Personal accounts of "demonic encounters" are among the most harrowing stories I've ever heard. True or not, it's evident that the people telling these stories are convinced.
I once had an occasion to speak with a group of students from an extremely conservative "bible college" in Springfield, Missouri. We were discussing the subject of "evil in a modern world." Throughout our conversation, the students, all of whom were considerably older than your average college seniors, kept glancing at each other. Finally, I held up my hand and called a halt. "Enough is enough, guys. What's up with all the side glances?" It took me a half hour to get the story out of them.
It seems that they had an "encounter" with a demonic entity, while on campus during a theology session. During this "encounter" two of the group were physically assaulted while furniture and other items were tossed about the room. Did it really happen? Who knows? I can only say that I'm absolutely convinced that THEY believe it happened. I once asked a noted paranormal skeptic if he thought demons really exist? He thought for a second, then asked in return, "Does evil?"
