Is anyone out there terrified of demons/devils IRL?
- Thread starter Argus Decimus Mokira
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Elder-Basilisk
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That rather depends upon the psychologist. Some are open to the possibility that a certain amount of what appears to be psychological phenomena is actually caused by spirits. A fair amount of evidence does point in that direction. (Mostly case studies--Dr Philip Wiebe's upcoming book, _God and Other Spirits_ from Oxford University Press might be a good place to start).
As to the existence of demons, yes I do believe that they exist. (Although the term "spirits" might be better--it doesn't carry quite the same superstitious stigma that discussion of demons does. It also allows for the discussion to include angels as well. And, if there is to be any discussion of the subject, I think it generally needs to start at the level that is most clearly distinguished from the dominant naturalism of the modern intelligensia. Once one admits that there are any kind of noncorporeal spirits or "supernatural" agents, it's not too much of a step to saying that some could be categorized as demons. The difference between the naturalistic world-view and one which accepts the possibility of spirits is much more significant).
That doesn't mean that I'm frightened of demons though. The same faith (Christianity) that tells me about demons also tells me that I don't need to fear them.
As to the existence of demons, yes I do believe that they exist. (Although the term "spirits" might be better--it doesn't carry quite the same superstitious stigma that discussion of demons does. It also allows for the discussion to include angels as well. And, if there is to be any discussion of the subject, I think it generally needs to start at the level that is most clearly distinguished from the dominant naturalism of the modern intelligensia. Once one admits that there are any kind of noncorporeal spirits or "supernatural" agents, it's not too much of a step to saying that some could be categorized as demons. The difference between the naturalistic world-view and one which accepts the possibility of spirits is much more significant).
That doesn't mean that I'm frightened of demons though. The same faith (Christianity) that tells me about demons also tells me that I don't need to fear them.
Ranger REG
Explorer
Well, I'm not a fan of horror movies. Sometimes, my imagination can get the best of me.
Am I terrified of demons and devils? I honestly don't know. I guess I should be, even though my Christian teachings tell me to resist them should I ever encounter them. But I don't have any reference nor prior experience.
Do I believe in the possibility of demon's and devil's influence? Yes, I do. Even though I have no confidence in humanity these days, sometimes I witnessed actions that can never explain why would should such a human being would commit such an act of terror, horror, or simply heinous.
Am I terrified of demons and devils? I honestly don't know. I guess I should be, even though my Christian teachings tell me to resist them should I ever encounter them. But I don't have any reference nor prior experience.
Do I believe in the possibility of demon's and devil's influence? Yes, I do. Even though I have no confidence in humanity these days, sometimes I witnessed actions that can never explain why would should such a human being would commit such an act of terror, horror, or simply heinous.
Sometimes when I'm sleeping my body shakes violently and I fear something is trying to take me over. I wake up telling them to stay the F*** out. I'm not superstitious and don't have a fear of this...but it has happened about 6 times or so. Last time it happened it felt like a serial killer...I kept seeing all these images and felt his personality pushing into my brain.
I knew a guy who had a girlfriend that was tormented by voices and moving furniture and stuff. He said it was pretty creepy listening to a chair scrape across the floor in another room.
Anyway, no point in fearing anything. No point in pretending to know what it's all about, either. Life is like a box of chocolates...
wolfen
I knew a guy who had a girlfriend that was tormented by voices and moving furniture and stuff. He said it was pretty creepy listening to a chair scrape across the floor in another room.
Anyway, no point in fearing anything. No point in pretending to know what it's all about, either. Life is like a box of chocolates...
wolfen
Shemeska
Adventurer
Time to see a doctor about a sleep disorder actually. Might be wise if thats happened repeatedly.
And I'm not superstitious, and have a hard time believing in a literal Satan. But the single best, and most disturbing depiction of demon/devils I've ever seen was in the movie Jacob's Ladder. That movie had me looking around every dark corner that evening, and also made me cry at the ending, but feh.
And I'm not superstitious, and have a hard time believing in a literal Satan. But the single best, and most disturbing depiction of demon/devils I've ever seen was in the movie Jacob's Ladder. That movie had me looking around every dark corner that evening, and also made me cry at the ending, but feh.
s/LaSH
First Post
Thing is, most of the paths to acknowledging the existance of evil spirits come through also acknowledging the existance of good ones, ie. religious paths. And once you've got the good guys on your side by being religious, the evil ones don't tend to be too threatening. "Woo! I'm gonna do evil stuff to ya!" "But my best friend blows up cities and comes back from the dead. Watcha gonna do, demon suckah?"
That doesn't make for good hack'n'slash adventuring, though, so it's altered slightly for D&D...
Now, personally, I do think there are things out there that science can't explain (having done a few of them myself), and I've heard of some rather freaky things from second- or third-hand sources. Like someone who'd never had a great education suddenly carrying on rather nasty rants in half a dozen languages that make Latin seem modern. It's kinda hard to pin the spontaneous manifestation of that sort of thing on mental illness, and I reckon it's probably a good idea they got a priest in. And this was just a couple of decades ago in this city (I think), for those who question its validity.
But I'm also of the opinion that humans have altogether too high an opinion of their species - we think we're the greatest life-form in the Universe. What if we aren't? What else could be out there? It's a pedantic point of etymology, but the world 'angel' can refer to anything that's better than human. This doesn't presuppose the existance of any extended cosmology; you don't need a God and a Devil to have such angels. Heck, you could write the word 'angel' all over the Cthulhu mythos. But doesn't the possibility exist that we might not sit upon the throne of all Creation?
Just asking...
And before you ask, I'm also of the firm belief that mental illness is real, that humans have free will to do good or evil, and that Occam's Razor is a very good thing. So basically I get to sit astride the proverbial fence and keep an open mind.
That doesn't make for good hack'n'slash adventuring, though, so it's altered slightly for D&D...
Now, personally, I do think there are things out there that science can't explain (having done a few of them myself), and I've heard of some rather freaky things from second- or third-hand sources. Like someone who'd never had a great education suddenly carrying on rather nasty rants in half a dozen languages that make Latin seem modern. It's kinda hard to pin the spontaneous manifestation of that sort of thing on mental illness, and I reckon it's probably a good idea they got a priest in. And this was just a couple of decades ago in this city (I think), for those who question its validity.
But I'm also of the opinion that humans have altogether too high an opinion of their species - we think we're the greatest life-form in the Universe. What if we aren't? What else could be out there? It's a pedantic point of etymology, but the world 'angel' can refer to anything that's better than human. This doesn't presuppose the existance of any extended cosmology; you don't need a God and a Devil to have such angels. Heck, you could write the word 'angel' all over the Cthulhu mythos. But doesn't the possibility exist that we might not sit upon the throne of all Creation?
Just asking...
And before you ask, I'm also of the firm belief that mental illness is real, that humans have free will to do good or evil, and that Occam's Razor is a very good thing. So basically I get to sit astride the proverbial fence and keep an open mind.
Why bother? Sounds like you've already figured it out.
s/LaSH said:
Slash, I'm with you. Actually, I think Occam's Razor has been abused to justify closed-mindedness. For example, let's say 1 million people worldwide claimed to have spoken with a deceased entity. How many people does it take for the "simple answer" to be "They actually talked to a dead person" ? What is the critical mass necessary to validate scientifically discomforting phenomena?
Some people will use Occam's Razor until they're the last person on earth to deny a thing.
I look at weird stuff this way -- if it's mentioned as part of the human experience since the beginning of recorded history, there's probably something to it. I don't know what it is, but something's going on. Whatever it is.
Does insanity and the errant neuron muddy the waters? Sure! But again you run into the problem -- how many people have to claim an experience for it to be a "sane" experience? How many people do we send to a sleep clinic before we accept that there may not be a disorder or dysfunction at work? I don't have an answer, and I don't respect dogmatism where it isn't warranted.
wolfen
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