Demonic Possessions

[Homicidalheathen]

Do you believe?

So this guy I know.....well I just met him actually......says he does exorcisms.

I have experiences things in places but NOT in people.

He claims he just rid someone of something last week.....and that when he used the name lilith it came out....and that even though he doesn't believe in Archangels.....he called on two of them and they came and took it for him.

Personally I think he may be a little off his rocker......

What do you think? Do you think people get possessed or that its of their own making?

I think things (I dont know what exactly) maybe get attracted to or stuck in a place, but not in people......

[phee]

Not likely....

[hellequin]

well, my feeling is that people who are "possessed" are probably very mentally sick, ie schizo or have MPD or some other disease. and if said sick person is head over heels into religion, exorcisms may make them think they are healed.. but i still think they'd most likely need serious medical help. *shrug*

but, you know, i'm not a medical doctor or a psychiatrist/psychologist; i'd have to say that's based on my life experiences with people who have serious medical conditions and how their conditions have scared the living turd out of religious fundamentalists.

[Gauge]

Do you believe?

So this guy I know.....well I just met him actually......says he does exorcisms.

I have experiences things in places but NOT in people.

He claims he just rid someone of something last week.....and that when he used the name lilith it came out....and that even though he doesn't believe in Archangels.....he called on two of them and they came and took it for him.

Personally I think he may be a little off his rocker......

What do you think? Do you think people get possessed or that its of their own making?

I think things (I dont know what exactly) maybe get attracted to or stuck in a place, but not in people......

lilith wouldve left them in, she gets off on tourturing weaklings. hes just bsing you

[Homicidalheathen]

He claims 3 other people in the room at the time saw it too. I think he is nuts. But thats me. Group nuts? Um, that sounded wrong.....

sympathetic nutties?

In snyc nuts?

[Fierce Critter]

I believe in it from a religious standpoint.

I don't think exorcisms are something the average citizen can do.

[Steven]

yes I beleive.

and Critter's right. And this guy.....I suspect he either does not know what he's dealing with or he's simply full of shit.

incidently I'm curious as to who what why how he thinks archangels intercede for him - he cites a biblical model, but does he understand the concepts from that which he allegedly draws from? (even Satan quoted scripture to Christ....)

[saechalyn]

I believe in schizophrenia...

[Homicidalheathen]

He isn't even christian and said at first since he didn't know what to do with the demon, he asked Micheal and some other one.....to come help him, and they did......swords and all.....?

[Gauge]

michael. . .swords. . .AND lilith? sounds like hes a little loopy, i think im with saechalyn on this one. . .

[Msterbeau]

I exorcised once. It was sweaty and tiring...

[Steven]

He isn't even christian and said at first since he didn't know what to do with the demon, he asked Micheal and some other one.....to come help him, and they did......swords and all.....?

if there truly is a Lillith as folklore suggests, why would a demon of venerable stature (as opposed to a demon named, oh....ED) be in possession of a regular joe schmoe? For what purpose?

Biblical evidence suggests that ranking demons hold territorial positions over kingdoms and rulers. Lillith is a legend, he-she-it - would certainly be a demon of considerble authority and strength. It makes no sense to me that a demon of stature would waste its time with a no one. That would be like a Govenor or senator making time to go to Bray's with me....why?

And the only time you find evidence of Michael's intercession is when it was in opposition to one of these ranking demons, such as Lucifer being cast down, and in the case of Daniel the prophet- the "Prince" of Persia, a regional demon who was trying to prevent a certain "word of God" making its way to the prophet and the us the people. In other words heady stuff is going down that seemingly would affect scores of peoples, nations in general. Also you only find one description of an actual Archangel - that being Michael the prince, and your friend seems to allude to more than one archangel. Ask him what type of angel Lucifer is, id be curious to know what he thinks.

If there really are supernatural events going on around yoru friend, he's essentially being toyed with and laughed at and is being led to beleive he has some form of strength or authority that he does not. In time he'll probably end up getting physically hurt.

And if he did not know what to do with the demon than he certainly is not an exorcist, nor do you find evidence of Michael direclty interacting with mankind in the way that say...Gabriel did.

I think your freind is playing a foolish and dangerous game.

[phee]

What about people who are possessed not by demons or evil spirits... but like the spirts of dead frogs or insurance salesmen?

[torn asunder]

What about people who are possessed not by demons or evil spirits... but like the spirts of dead frogs or insurance salesmen?

hey, leave my family out of this!!! :doh

[phee]

hey, leave my family out of this!!! :doh

*Phee unjacks the thread and makes it spooky again*

[sass_in_the_pants]

It makes no sense to me that a demon of stature would waste its time with a no one. That would be like a Govenor or senator making time to go to Bray's with me....why?

Why? Because Bray's is dirty good and they don't have that shit in Lansing. THAT is why Jenny from The Block aka Jenny G, may in fact, dine with you at Bray's.

Now, then...

HH, your friend is full of shit.

He may, in fact, believe that he is exorcising demons. He is not. He is deluding himself and trying to do the same to you.

He's never seen a demon in his life.

Catholicism allows for the idea of demonic posession by the way, but even THEY, right on the Vatican's website even, say that more often than not, what you THINK is demonic posession is purely physical or psychological.

[Scales]

I don't have any religion, but witness spirit to be an enduring subject in philosophy. Therefore I believe rather then the idea of spirit(s) taking a person under seige, it is an impossibility; this person is raising their self-importance through belief, which allows them to take the victim role and inflict themselves with negativety, further benefitting belief in weak, infantile seperation. I'm not trying to be insulting whatsoever, but I've found more love in myself then I ever have in religion, and that to me is just being logical. I would offer the theoretical stance that there are seemingly darker, or more foreign pieces of a person's spirit that can be unlocked for personal growth and gain. I guess what I'm trying to say is the alternative to thinking you could ever be controlled is to be the controller of your fate, and to do that in my opinion, as hard as it may be, is to try to see everything underlying with love rather then seperating it into good and evil.

:fear :pirate

[AstralCrux]

I've never been posessed, but my mom seems to think I have! The closest I've ever come was when someone slipped something in my drink and I thought I was posessed. In reality, I was struggling for control of myself, which would probably be what it feels like.

If that is the case, it would require someone with a rediculously strong force of will to expell anything demonic from a person and the person posessed would have to be fighting the demon as well. Even with myself being able to work with energy, I doubt that I would come anywhere near being able to fight with something more ancient than me that has control of it's abilities. One would have to be completely sure of self before it would even be considered reasonable to attempt exorcism.

[n0Mad]

In snyc nuts?

I really don't want to hear about boy band testicles thank you.

[Steven]

He's never seen a demon in his life.

Catholicism allows for the idea of demonic posession by the way, but even THEY, right on the Vatican's website even, say that more often than not, what you THINK is demonic posession is purely physical or psychological.

Catholicsm is not the only faith in Christendom that beleives in demonic possession, and they have entire archives and "specialists" if you will who study demonology. They are also prone to be much more PC these days, as is modern day Christendom in general.

Nevertheless, there are scores of people (myself included) who do indeed beleive in demonic possession, and scores of people (myself included) who beleive they have seen it among other supernatural things, therefore there are scores of people (myslef included) who are readily dismissed and diminished. Nothing new there. Not only do I beleive in demonic possession but I beleive in territorial strongholds of increased demonic activity, occasional personal assignment, and a whole bunch of spiritually assigned propoganda, some of which would fall into the situation with HH's pal, who may indeed, have seen a demon.

The problem with the beleif of potential possession however, is that it includes the basic theories of angels and demons, spiritual hierarchy, God, et al. I dont know if people have as difficult a time beleiving that a superior force can take control of a physical body as much as they have a hard time with what comes along wtih the rest of it.

[sass_in_the_pants]

Catholicsm is not the only faith in Christendom that beleives in demonic possession, and they have entire archives and "specialists" if you will who study demonology. They are also prone to be much more PC these days, as is modern day Christendom in general.

Nevertheless, there are scores of people (myself included) who do indeed beleive in demonic possession, and scores of people (myself included) who beleive they have seen it among other supernatural things, therefore there are scores of people (myslef included) who are readily dismissed and diminished. Nothing new there. Not only do I beleive in demonic possession but I beleive in territorial strongholds of increased demonic activity, occasional personal assignment, and a whole bunch of spiritually assigned propoganda, some of which would fall into the situation with HH's pal, who may indeed, have seen a demon.

The problem with the beleif of potential possession however, is that it includes the basic theories of angels and demons, spiritual hierarchy, God, et al. I dont know if people have as difficult a time beleiving that a superior force can take control of a physical body as much as they have a hard time with what comes along wtih the rest of it.

Let me tell you how I know he hasn't seen a demon. It is not because I do not believe in that sort of thing. Quite the opposite. It is because I have seen...well, people don't like the word demon. So, I will describe it like this - it wasn't from around these parts, and by these parts I mean earth, it loathed me, and, there is a fear in me, and I think everyone, that is so deep, only something like that can drag it out of you, and it did, and it's a fear that is so primal, so base, that you cease all thought and simply just react. And the reaction ANY person would have to seeing a demon would be to RUN LIKE MOTHER FUCKING HELL as fast and as far away from the place that they could. And, if HH's friend was certain said demon was now inhabiting the soul of a friend, they would also RUN LIKE MOTHER FUCKING HELL, because THAT shit's even scarier.

Steven, I can only speak knowledgeably on the subject of Catholicism. I THOUGHT a bunch of other Christian faiths did something like that, too, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!

[Steven]

Let me tell you how I know he hasn't seen a demon. It is not because I do not believe in that sort of thing. Quite the opposite. It is because I have seen...well, people don't like the word demon. So, I will describe it like this - it wasn't from around these parts, and by these parts I mean earth, it loathed me, and, there is a fear in me, and I think everyone, that is so deep, only something like that can drag it out of you, and it did, and it's a fear that is so primal, so base, that you cease all thought and simply just react. And the reaction ANY person would have to seeing a demon would be to RUN LIKE MOTHER FUCKING HELL as fast and as far away from the place that they could. And, if HH's friend was certain said demon was now inhabiting the soul of a friend, they would also RUN LIKE MOTHER FUCKING HELL, because THAT shit's even scarier.

Steven, I can only speak knowledgeably on the subject of Catholicism. I THOUGHT a bunch of other Christian faiths did something like that, too, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!

I understand what you are saying. and I tend to agree. unless that person is bing used for spiritual propoganda's sake.

Since you are a Catholic, remember the biblical model.....

Demons are Angels cast down.

Angels can take the physical form of man, to include eating and drinking. There are at least three types of angels and possibly a fourth. Although we like to use cherubs in our valentine artwork, Lucifer is said to be a cherub, and not an arc angel or a seraphim. And Lucifer, like other demons, often make themselves out to be "angels of light", in other words, appealing to man.

[n0Mad]

And Lucifer, like other demons, often make themselves out to be "angels of light", in other words, appealing to man.

In that case I think I dated a demon once. lol

On a more serious note, in my pastor's sermon from church this past Sunday (Lutheran) he mentioned a bit about demons and possession. I can't remember all the examples he gave but for one he said something like, "How can you hear about a person mollesting children and not believe a demon was involved?"

[BrassFusion]

I don't have any religion, but witness spirit to be an enduring subject in philosophy. Therefore I believe rather then the idea of spirit(s) taking a person under seige, it is an impossibility; this person is raising their self-importance through belief, which allows them to take the victim role and inflict themselves with negativety, further benefitting belief in weak, infantile seperation. I'm not trying to be insulting whatsoever, but I've found more love in myself then I ever have in religion, and that to me is just being logical. I would offer the theoretical stance that there are seemingly darker, or more foreign pieces of a person's spirit that can be unlocked for personal growth and gain. I guess what I'm trying to say is the alternative to thinking you could ever be controlled is to be the controller of your fate, and to do that in my opinion, as hard as it may be, is to try to see everything underlying with love rather then seperating it into good and evil.

:fear :pirate

What wonderful truths. Except for the very last line... ninjas and pirates don't get along like that. =(

[maeve]

Well, for what it's worth here's my two cents. There are many people in this world who believe in such things. There are also many people in this world who believe that people who believe in such things are nuts. Personally, I don't care what camp a person is in, but it just so happens that I have a very true and strange story about exorcism, and well, I'm in a sharing type of mood so here goes:

When I was 13 my family, who were practicing fundamentalist Christians, believed that I had become possessed because the baby got sick and my brother-in-law got a flat tire. The connection to me as the possessie was made because of an "OMNI" magazine that had been found in my room during a "routine" search which contained an article on witchcraft. So...they got their local heads of households and a priest together and performed an exorcism on me. It was the stupidest thing I think I have ever been witness to. The main thing I remember about the entire event was thinking to myself, "God, I wish I could make a lamp fly across the room right now. That would so fuck up their heads" Seriously people, I shit you not.

So it was after my "cleansing" that about a year later they found out I was still reading stuff that had to do with the occult, and god forbid, I was actually interested in "darker" things than they were comfortable with and to top it off, I asked them questions about their faith that they had a hard time justifying so...once again the exorcism was performed. Finally, when they realized that what they were doing was only pissing me off (I started to act up in negative ways) and making their lives miserable, they had me sent away to a state facility until I was 17. Gotta love them fundamentalists right? If we can't cure you we'll lock you away and pretend that you don't exist. Anyway, the story doesn't end horribly. I was emancipated when I turned 17, after I was refused a home from my family upon release from the state correctional center and my brother-in-law had tried to take control of my pay checks, stating I was unable to be trusted with my own money. The judge actually laughed at him and asked him how it was that he thought I was responsible enough to be turned out on the street by my family but not responsible enough to provide for myself. So, there you have it. Long story made short. There are many people out there who think possession really happens, there are those who use it as an excuse to create their own comfortable reality, and there are those who think that the people who believe it are nuts. Like I said, I don't care what camp someone falls into as long as they leave me out of it until that is, I can learn to make a lamp fly across the room using only my mind. True Story.