I used to think that the idea of demons was ridiculous. But seeing the absolute savagery and anger in the world has made me reconsider. I even see it in myself on the rare occasions I completely lose my temper and go on an unhinged rant about something. It's like the demons are just hanging around, looking for an opening, and when they see one, they take control. Later, when you rationally look back on it, you wonder what "possessed" you to act so irrationally and over-the-top.
I've been seeing the resurgence in demon talk (among those who are psychologically close to the idea that we are not bodies) as a sign of increasing awareness that our political environment is developing into a real culture that emphasizes fear, guilt, judgment, division, punishment and war. As millions of minds settle into sides inside guilt-projecting narratives, designed (it seems) by the most damaged psyches; we feel the evil separateness of it, and the looming danger, whether physical (like assassinations, professional expulsions, wars of choice) or mental (judgment and exclusion).
Note that the culture itself is invisible, like demons are invisible, because it lives in minds. But we see the effects through actions that try to make them "real."
It's a long way out from hell. We would be hopelessly trapped in our guilt projecting, safety-constructing insanities, but there was a perfect master who showed us the way. Some say he was God, some say he demonstrated the way back to God (--not through sacrifice, but through demonstration that nothing here can hurt the real you).
"Such ideas [of the choice between materialism and spiritualism] have been discussed for millennia and will probably be discussed until man takes his last breath." This is true, because the internal war between love and fear--and all its external offspring through every social unit--will continue until everyone in their innocence has chosen love together; and after that, humans (and demons) will be no more.
"By this they will know you're my disciples, if you love one another."
Alan - I did prison ministry for several years some time ago. Most days was routine, - go through security and then go a a specific floor and pod where the incarcerated were waiting for their prayer and communion service. At the end, go downstairs again, go through security and go home. On the way out, you would see families - wives/girlfriends and kids waiting to see their loved ones.
Most days all went well and was non-eventful.
On some days though, I could feel the dread, as if your soul was being squished, the ambient temperature felt cold, dry, you can feel the negativity, you can feel something was not right. This would happen while walking past the families, and especially where the kids were. The kids would look at me from the over side of the glass, with a weird look. I would hurry up my pace, and get the hell out of the place.
Were the kids possessed? I don't think so, but don't know. Was my perception of dread psychological? Doubtful, I did this ministry for several years and my sense of dread was not all the time, but only in a very few occasions. Was I bringing something from the pods out with me? I don't have answers but I can tell you about this as if it had happened yesterday.
An enlightening, edifying, and entertaining essay. In due course I'll write an essay detailing my all-too-real experience with angels and demons. Regardless, continued success in your good endeavors.
As one who has Christian faith, a former co-worker had expressed encountering a masked evil in his younger life. Temptation that knew way too much about him, making him uneasy and choosing to reject the temptation. What made me think of his stories was your opening. His mother had warned him to beware of demonic evil, according to his stories she was right. Thank you for reminding us to look for the good, the Angelic.
I used to think that the idea of demons was ridiculous. But seeing the absolute savagery and anger in the world has made me reconsider. I even see it in myself on the rare occasions I completely lose my temper and go on an unhinged rant about something. It's like the demons are just hanging around, looking for an opening, and when they see one, they take control. Later, when you rationally look back on it, you wonder what "possessed" you to act so irrationally and over-the-top.
I've been seeing the resurgence in demon talk (among those who are psychologically close to the idea that we are not bodies) as a sign of increasing awareness that our political environment is developing into a real culture that emphasizes fear, guilt, judgment, division, punishment and war. As millions of minds settle into sides inside guilt-projecting narratives, designed (it seems) by the most damaged psyches; we feel the evil separateness of it, and the looming danger, whether physical (like assassinations, professional expulsions, wars of choice) or mental (judgment and exclusion).
Note that the culture itself is invisible, like demons are invisible, because it lives in minds. But we see the effects through actions that try to make them "real."
It's a long way out from hell. We would be hopelessly trapped in our guilt projecting, safety-constructing insanities, but there was a perfect master who showed us the way. Some say he was God, some say he demonstrated the way back to God (--not through sacrifice, but through demonstration that nothing here can hurt the real you).
"Such ideas [of the choice between materialism and spiritualism] have been discussed for millennia and will probably be discussed until man takes his last breath." This is true, because the internal war between love and fear--and all its external offspring through every social unit--will continue until everyone in their innocence has chosen love together; and after that, humans (and demons) will be no more.
"By this they will know you're my disciples, if you love one another."
Alan - I did prison ministry for several years some time ago. Most days was routine, - go through security and then go a a specific floor and pod where the incarcerated were waiting for their prayer and communion service. At the end, go downstairs again, go through security and go home. On the way out, you would see families - wives/girlfriends and kids waiting to see their loved ones.
Most days all went well and was non-eventful.
On some days though, I could feel the dread, as if your soul was being squished, the ambient temperature felt cold, dry, you can feel the negativity, you can feel something was not right. This would happen while walking past the families, and especially where the kids were. The kids would look at me from the over side of the glass, with a weird look. I would hurry up my pace, and get the hell out of the place.
Were the kids possessed? I don't think so, but don't know. Was my perception of dread psychological? Doubtful, I did this ministry for several years and my sense of dread was not all the time, but only in a very few occasions. Was I bringing something from the pods out with me? I don't have answers but I can tell you about this as if it had happened yesterday.
An enlightening, edifying, and entertaining essay. In due course I'll write an essay detailing my all-too-real experience with angels and demons. Regardless, continued success in your good endeavors.
As one who has Christian faith, a former co-worker had expressed encountering a masked evil in his younger life. Temptation that knew way too much about him, making him uneasy and choosing to reject the temptation. What made me think of his stories was your opening. His mother had warned him to beware of demonic evil, according to his stories she was right. Thank you for reminding us to look for the good, the Angelic.
This article and the quotes clearly don’t understand the topic of the demonic, nor the character of the priest openly criticized.