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Introduction into Demonology
The History of Demonology is one that is quite unclear before 1160 B.C. , however
writings from Wolfram von Eschenbach (1170B.C.-1220B.C.) state that Magic was
first concieved in a city called Persida and that a Nomad named Klingsor traveled
there and brought back with him the art of Magically effecting whatever he
wished. When Klingsor found the strength of his true powers he began to brag
about how sly and cunning he was to get women into bed, but that served him no
justice after he got caught sleeping with the kings wife (The Queen). Klingsor was
castrated and turned into a Eunuch and never again looked favorabley upon man
nor woman again, he enjoyed seeing other people suffer and that was the only
thing that gave him great joy. This was one of the first recorded examples of the
weak becoming empowered by sacrificing themselves to the Devils and Demons
in exchange for sweet revenge. We find the word Magic used above simply
because any time you entered into the world of conjuring or summoning evil or
dark forces that is what it was called, later threw the centuries magic took on
many forms like Elemental, White, Dark, Black,Etc and then Demonology was
given it's own Category.
During Jesus Christ's Life he had many confrontations with Demons. He cast out
many Demons and Devils and there are numerous accounts in the Bible of this.
One of the most memorable would be the casting out of demons in the desert.
This is when Jesus cast out the Demons that were in the Desert into the bodies
of Pigs as they scattered away. This is one of the reasons why most of the
Islamic Faith does not eat Pork. Another example would be one of the most
recognized phrases in the history of Demonology " My name is Legion! ". In MARK
5:2-5:9 Jesus entered the land of Gadarenes and encountered a man who was
posessed. When Jesus spoke to the Demon and said " COME OUT OF THE MAN,
THOU UNCLEAN SPIRIT, WHAT IS THOU NAME? The Demon answered "MY NAME
IS LEGION : FOR WE ARE MANY! "
After Jesus Christs died on the cross and the Catholic Church was founded ,
there were many accounts and happenings that were blamed on by Demons.
Seizures were one of them, tho medical, the Catholic church looked at Seizures
as the workings of Demons trying to overtake a persons body as well as his soul.
It was not until the early days of medicine that these Seizures were found to be
caused by the body responding to a disease in which there was no cure for at the
time. This example is one of the most important reasons why Demonologists kind
of Died off for hundreds of years, Skepticism. I am not saying that Demonologists
were not common, they were, in fact there is more proof of Demonology between
when Jesus died and the Middle Ages than any other time span in history.
From about the Middle Ages up unto the early 1800's the greatest years of
Demonology (The Golden Era)was that of the European Witch Craze. Even though
thousands of people died a horrible death, it inspired many Demonologists to
continue there work but trying hard not to get caught,however the Art of
Demonology Died Off after the end of that era and was only carried on by a hand
full of Theologians.
About the word, "Demon"
The term "demon" was not always understood to have the absolutely negative
connotation that it does today. Homer used the terms "demons" and "gods"
more or less interchangeably. Another opinion was that demons were
intermediaries between men and gods, and that demons had once been men.
Plutarch speaks of "human souls as commencing, first heroes, then demons,
and afterward as advancing to a more sublime degree." Philo of Byblus seems to
draw on this same tradition when he states that, "The most ancient of the
barbarians, especially the Phoenicians and Egyptians, from whom other people
derived this custom, accounted those the greatest gods who had found out
things most necessary and useful in life -- and had been benefactors to mankind."
Our current use of the term "demon" is to denote a malignant spirit, and comes
to us primarily form New Testament writers. However, there is still uncertainty as
to whether or not demons are considered to be distinct and separate from the
Devil and his fallen angels.
Demoniacal Possession
Demon possession - that is, a human who has become inhabited or "taken over"
by a demon and who cannot, consequently, exercise his own will - is noted in the
New Testament, specifically in Mark, Chapter 5, ver. 12. Josephus also mentions
a method of exorcism prescribed by Solomon, which had "prevailed or
succeeded greatly among them down to the present time." Unfortunately,
Josephus does not describe the method used.
There is little doubt that most of what was described in older times as "demon
possession" would today be diagnosed as some sort of mental illness, and
treated accordingly. Nevertheless, a few cases of possession do seem to crop
up from time to time, and the Roman Catholic Church does continue (sparingly) to
perform exorcisms.
Periods of Increased Demon Activity
Some historians of times past believed that there were cycles during which
demonic activity increased, and used this theory to explain various occurrences,
much in the same way as today's economic historians might explain historical
events in terms of trade, productivity and other factors. These older historians
saw a rise in demonic activity accompanying such occurrences as the
destruction of Jerusalem, the fall of Rome and the French Revolution, and would
in all likelihood also have viewed the demonic theory at work in relation to the rise
of Nazism and World War II. In this day and age Demons are more active than
most people realize. Alot of their strength and power comes from the fact that
many people today do not even acknowledge their exsistance.
THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH describes demons thus:
(CCC 391)The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God:
"The devil and other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they
became evil by their own doing." The Catechism also, (CCC 392) "Scripture
speaks of a sin of the angels. This "fall" consists in the free choice of these
created spirits, who radically and IRREVOCABLY rejected God and his Reign."
The History of Demonology is one that is quite unclear before 1160 B.C. , however
writings from Wolfram von Eschenbach (1170B.C.-1220B.C.) state that Magic was
first concieved in a city called Persida and that a Nomad named Klingsor traveled
there and brought back with him the art of Magically effecting whatever he
wished. When Klingsor found the strength of his true powers he began to brag
about how sly and cunning he was to get women into bed, but that served him no
justice after he got caught sleeping with the kings wife (The Queen). Klingsor was
castrated and turned into a Eunuch and never again looked favorabley upon man
nor woman again, he enjoyed seeing other people suffer and that was the only
thing that gave him great joy. This was one of the first recorded examples of the
weak becoming empowered by sacrificing themselves to the Devils and Demons
in exchange for sweet revenge. We find the word Magic used above simply
because any time you entered into the world of conjuring or summoning evil or
dark forces that is what it was called, later threw the centuries magic took on
many forms like Elemental, White, Dark, Black,Etc and then Demonology was
given it's own Category.
During Jesus Christ's Life he had many confrontations with Demons. He cast out
many Demons and Devils and there are numerous accounts in the Bible of this.
One of the most memorable would be the casting out of demons in the desert.
This is when Jesus cast out the Demons that were in the Desert into the bodies
of Pigs as they scattered away. This is one of the reasons why most of the
Islamic Faith does not eat Pork. Another example would be one of the most
recognized phrases in the history of Demonology " My name is Legion! ". In MARK
5:2-5:9 Jesus entered the land of Gadarenes and encountered a man who was
posessed. When Jesus spoke to the Demon and said " COME OUT OF THE MAN,
THOU UNCLEAN SPIRIT, WHAT IS THOU NAME? The Demon answered "MY NAME
IS LEGION : FOR WE ARE MANY! "
After Jesus Christs died on the cross and the Catholic Church was founded ,
there were many accounts and happenings that were blamed on by Demons.
Seizures were one of them, tho medical, the Catholic church looked at Seizures
as the workings of Demons trying to overtake a persons body as well as his soul.
It was not until the early days of medicine that these Seizures were found to be
caused by the body responding to a disease in which there was no cure for at the
time. This example is one of the most important reasons why Demonologists kind
of Died off for hundreds of years, Skepticism. I am not saying that Demonologists
were not common, they were, in fact there is more proof of Demonology between
when Jesus died and the Middle Ages than any other time span in history.
From about the Middle Ages up unto the early 1800's the greatest years of
Demonology (The Golden Era)was that of the European Witch Craze. Even though
thousands of people died a horrible death, it inspired many Demonologists to
continue there work but trying hard not to get caught,however the Art of
Demonology Died Off after the end of that era and was only carried on by a hand
full of Theologians.
About the word, "Demon"
The term "demon" was not always understood to have the absolutely negative
connotation that it does today. Homer used the terms "demons" and "gods"
more or less interchangeably. Another opinion was that demons were
intermediaries between men and gods, and that demons had once been men.
Plutarch speaks of "human souls as commencing, first heroes, then demons,
and afterward as advancing to a more sublime degree." Philo of Byblus seems to
draw on this same tradition when he states that, "The most ancient of the
barbarians, especially the Phoenicians and Egyptians, from whom other people
derived this custom, accounted those the greatest gods who had found out
things most necessary and useful in life -- and had been benefactors to mankind."
Our current use of the term "demon" is to denote a malignant spirit, and comes
to us primarily form New Testament writers. However, there is still uncertainty as
to whether or not demons are considered to be distinct and separate from the
Devil and his fallen angels.
Demoniacal Possession
Demon possession - that is, a human who has become inhabited or "taken over"
by a demon and who cannot, consequently, exercise his own will - is noted in the
New Testament, specifically in Mark, Chapter 5, ver. 12. Josephus also mentions
a method of exorcism prescribed by Solomon, which had "prevailed or
succeeded greatly among them down to the present time." Unfortunately,
Josephus does not describe the method used.
There is little doubt that most of what was described in older times as "demon
possession" would today be diagnosed as some sort of mental illness, and
treated accordingly. Nevertheless, a few cases of possession do seem to crop
up from time to time, and the Roman Catholic Church does continue (sparingly) to
perform exorcisms.
Periods of Increased Demon Activity
Some historians of times past believed that there were cycles during which
demonic activity increased, and used this theory to explain various occurrences,
much in the same way as today's economic historians might explain historical
events in terms of trade, productivity and other factors. These older historians
saw a rise in demonic activity accompanying such occurrences as the
destruction of Jerusalem, the fall of Rome and the French Revolution, and would
in all likelihood also have viewed the demonic theory at work in relation to the rise
of Nazism and World War II. In this day and age Demons are more active than
most people realize. Alot of their strength and power comes from the fact that
many people today do not even acknowledge their exsistance.
THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH describes demons thus:
(CCC 391)The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God:
"The devil and other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they
became evil by their own doing." The Catechism also, (CCC 392) "Scripture
speaks of a sin of the angels. This "fall" consists in the free choice of these
created spirits, who radically and IRREVOCABLY rejected God and his Reign."