I know basic Christian teaching on demons. That they are fallen angels who were cast out of heaven for refusing to love and serve God.
I know that they hate humanity and seek to harm us, sometimes by causing illness and demon possesion, but most often by just tempting us and causing us to doubt God. Turning us away from him seems to be their main MO.
I know demonic possession can happen, but doesn't happen all that often. Does anyone have any actual experience with it, or know how it can happen. I have heard it generally can't happen to a Christian, and even to non-Christians it generally only happens when they expose themselves to magic or the occult practices (voodoo, ouija board, tarot, wicca,divination etc.)
I have heard that by engaging in any of the above, you are calling on demonic assistance, and implictly consenting to having them actively in your lives. Exorcism piqued my curiosity, and I researched it, with the same intrigue as I have researched bigfoot, UFOS ,etc.
I almost wish I never did. Far from being interesting, the whole exorcism business sounds deeply horrible and depressing. Even where the afflicted person is "delivered' they and the person casting the demon out sometimes are deeply harmed and affected by the whole experinece.
However I know that mostly Satan is too clever to wish to possess manypeople and activley pointing himself out. If he did, many more people would be Christians and be terrified of him, instead of believing he is a myth.
Am I right in my understanding of demons/possesions?
I know that they hate humanity and seek to harm us, sometimes by causing illness and demon possesion, but most often by just tempting us and causing us to doubt God. Turning us away from him seems to be their main MO.
I know demonic possession can happen, but doesn't happen all that often. Does anyone have any actual experience with it, or know how it can happen. I have heard it generally can't happen to a Christian, and even to non-Christians it generally only happens when they expose themselves to magic or the occult practices (voodoo, ouija board, tarot, wicca,divination etc.)
I have heard that by engaging in any of the above, you are calling on demonic assistance, and implictly consenting to having them actively in your lives. Exorcism piqued my curiosity, and I researched it, with the same intrigue as I have researched bigfoot, UFOS ,etc.
I almost wish I never did. Far from being interesting, the whole exorcism business sounds deeply horrible and depressing. Even where the afflicted person is "delivered' they and the person casting the demon out sometimes are deeply harmed and affected by the whole experinece.
However I know that mostly Satan is too clever to wish to possess manypeople and activley pointing himself out. If he did, many more people would be Christians and be terrified of him, instead of believing he is a myth.
Am I right in my understanding of demons/possesions?