I am doing a speach over demons and possesion (including demonic influence) and thought it would be good to get some input from different people of different backgrounds. Just as a disclaimer, there is a chance that I may use your quote in my speech to demonstrate different opinions on the topic.
215157
Demons have existed and inhabited our earth since Bible times, so it's logical that they are still among us today. I think of them as messengers of Satan, similar to the way angels are messengers of God. Most people are not directly affected by their presence, but many are without even realizing it. \n\nLike Satan himself, the job of a demon is to corrupt God's people and create doubt in the holiness and power of God. For example, there are numerous accounts on haunted houses, with plenty of legitimate witnesses testifying to what they saw. Demons will take the form of a ghost or deceased relative, because if someone believes in a world of ghosts unable to cross over, that person may doubt the existence of God, who is in charge of taking care of our souls after death. Fortune tellers and those who practice witchcraft may also be able to communicate with demons, who may not always represent themselves as a negative presence (therefore people might not realize they are speaking with an evil force).\n\nMore rare and serious instances of demonic presence are possessions. Possessions can range anywhere from the extreme, like in "The Exorcist", to symptoms that resemble mental illness. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is cited numerous times casting out demons, such as in Matthew, chapter 8, in which one man is possessed with many demons.\n\nIn order to be possessed, one needs to allow a path into their soul, such as practicing witchcraft. The only sure way to protect oneself from demonic possession is to have a firm faith in the Holy Trinity and avoid cult practices which invite evil forces. In certain places, I have felt a negative presence and God has always protected me. Everyone has probably experienced a similar feeling, without being able to put their finger on what it was, like that feeling you are being watched when no one is there.\n\nMy beliefs come from years of reading the Bible and other Christian materials and talking about it with Christian pastors. My religious affiliation is Lutheran, but I'm not sure if all Lutherans have the same beliefs I do, although I have talked with some who do. Good luck with your paper and feel free to quote me. :)
252955
Yeah, I do believe in possession. I'm in Australia and do not know of any churches that have performed an exorcism. There probably has been but none that I know of personally.
494261
Demons, yeah they exist and they love to come when you call.\nIf your dumb enough to call them that is.
592174
I believe that it is very possible..the minds and hearts of the SS, and other such legions were controlled by music, speeches and the like, but what is underneath the symbols and the sounds...occultism. Even today we can see the grip of the occult on society. Look at voodun for instance...mind over matter perhaps, but I question how much a human can do on its own, minus necromantic occultism. Even in the U.S we can see the occultism of things...but it is very insidous.
529451
Well it's true, a person's belief is stronger than medicine sometimes, faith can heal or injure. A person who wants to be sick will never be cured no matter how much time and money is spent, unless they get the cure they desire. After all it's literally "in your mind" and no one can get in there. They can use drugs to blur your mind, or electro-shock therapy to try "re-wiring"  it drastically, literally forcing you to think differently, the same as people recovering from strokes or major brain injuries learn to. Much of dementia is caused simply by letting our minds go. Do I believe in satanic possessions? I'm not sure, but I believe there is potential for great good or great evil in every person, it's a battle waged within us every moment, and sometimes people feel the best way to face temptation is to yield to it and then claim they are a victim, "temporary insanity", or even demonic "possession." I don't know, but I believe evil requires a human body, a physical presence, in order to have power. And it's too easy to have a cop out like saying "I can't help myself". If a person is possessed I doubt any "exorcism" could work unless they want it to. But I'd like to know if any study was ever done to see if people with no religous beliefs ever get "possessed"?
618223
ANY dabbling with the occult, spirits and such is dangerous!\n\nThere are several scriptures in the Bible about this, if you want me to look them up for you send me an e-mail
649087
YES!!! I belive in all of it\n\nTo those that have answered....I have quoted and responded to your words....\n\n"Much of this stuff dos indeed exist--but as a true Christina I stay clear pof such demonic stuff. "\n Ghosts, Magic, witches, wizards etc are NOT DEMONIC stuff! Ghosts are our astral form if you will, and is not concidered any form of the devil! Second, MAGIC is everywhere, Christians call it a Miracle! You can not deny MAGIC if so would be denying GOD! (I reference to God because he said he was a TRUE CHRISTIAN)\n\n"As entertaining as it looks, no. You have to believe in one or the other - God or the devil. "\nUm, WHAT?! Read explanation above! \nWitches are not Devil Worshipers in the first place (and devil worshipers dont always do EVIL! I have a friend who is and has never done harm to anything!) Wizards are a form of Witch but not exactly. A male and female can be called a witch. I do not know about wizards for I have not read up on them as much!\n\n"ghosts: most fall into one of a few categories, ie residual or one that is like a video loop that is replayed from time to time....there \nis no, and can be no interaction with it, it is just a moment in time that reappears....poltergeist: this is a nasty one that gets physical\nwith victims; typical "haunt": an entity with some form, perhaps\nthe visual of someone who hasn't crossed over\nmagic: depends on your definition....magic, miracles happen daily\nthey're just small and only noticeable to those that they happen\nfor/to..\nwitches: are we talking Wicca...the religion of nature?...or are\nwe talking hollywood?\nwizards: usually had more to do with alchemy and chemistry than\nmagic..... "\nHe has the better view out of anyone that I have read thus far. I give you much kuddos! Thanks for helping me explain what I wanted to say!
432725
Wow, this is a new topic and compared to what I have read so far today...a pleasant change.  Possibly so, since we are to believe we were all 'created' in the image of God.  Angels were first according to history and Satan, Lucifer was his favorite at one time.  I don't know what else to say, but I appreciate the question for the open minded people out in the world today...what if this is true?  Good one.
460546
Well im not sure what to say about "Devil Worshippers" other than I think they have been mis-informed, I Myself am a Satanist and basically any information you seek about us can be found at www.churchofsatan.com . We dont kill animals or babies like we have so often been acused, nor do we go out seeking new members, new members seek us. But since im a nice guy you can pm me if you like im bored anyway and I'll help if I can.
88123
"Oh, no thank you, I don't want to damage my brain or my ability to bear healthy children.  May the Lord Jesus Christ forgive you for what you are doing to your body, mind, and spirit.  You know demons ride on the back of drugs and when you take a drug, you are inviting that demon into your soul.  I will pray for you."\n\nWhat do you think? it'll shock them.
368244
this family I know moved to a fifty acre place they bought, one night they noticed people around a fire at the lake, they called the police, they wouldnt go down there,there witchs. we dont mess with them. he asked them to leave, they wouldnt then, they came back.he called me. we went down there with our rifles and shotguns and they no longer CAN come back.. the evil bastards. well. actually they never left, true story. I am afraid of noone nor anything.when You die, the demons will drag you to hell. my brother is evil. I saw demons flying around his bed when I was four years old, there was a green light in the room, I screamed but no sound came out.
44462
THEIR IS SUCH A THING AS MAGIC! BUT I WOULDNT CALL IT MAGIC! THE MAGIC YOU SEE COMES FROM A SOURCE WORKING THRU AN OBJECT OR HUMAN! EVER HEARD OF WHITE AND BLACK MAGIC? SOME DO HARM OTHERS DO GOOD! IT DEPENDS IF THE PERSON IS DEALING WITH THE DEVIL OR NOT!
400241
I have met a few people who have seen dark spirits in various forms, which were linked to voodoo or other such practices involving negative spiritual forces.  Based on what they reported, and what I have seen happen to people who someone cast a spell on:  yes, voodoo and other forms of negative wishful thinking or action, do have an effect on people, but generally backfire on the person who wished it.\n\nAny thoughts you send out (or act out through words or actions) are energy, which is connected to matter, and thus affects the world. As long as people think hateful jealous or negative angry thoughts of each other, collectively this negative energy manifests as earthquakes, disasters, crime and disease.  If the spirit is sick, the body shows the symptoms.  Even 9/11 happened in a political climate where people were complaining and rebelling, sending hateful thoughts and messages against each other's leaders. So the same way positive thoughts and prayers open one's heart and mind to receive blessings in life; negative thoughts, wishes and spells open the soul to dark spirits that wish ill and destruction, and tend to destroy the host who invites them in.\n\nI do not recommend any kind of experimentation with voodoo or witchcraft, because everyone I know who has, or who has friends who play with it, end up "cursed" with negative energy or conflicts that come out of nowhere, for no reason, and cannot be solved.  So I think that comes from attracting negative thoughts, energy, or spirits.  And the only way to "undo" that is to seek a pastor or minister who can do a deliverance prayer to cast out the demon or negative energy, thought, or spirit bothering you. \n\nI spoke with two women from Africa had seen much suffering related to voodoo or related practices -- one whose father was killed in a human sacrifice, while the other said she saw black demons snatch a live child from a mother's womb. (Both of them turned to Christian prayer to protect themselves.)\n\nMy understanding is that the tragic history of wars, slavery, disease and destruction that has ravaged the rich continent of Africa is rooted in previous voodoo/witchcraft related spells; where tribes out of jealousy or hatred cursed each other's family lines and generations.  So this explains to me why African people still suffer, that the injuries of slavery are not left behind but carried spiritually in future generations who still feel the injury and anger or hatred as if it happened yesterday.\n\nI have friends who pray for such generational curses to be broken so the souls can be healed of these spiritual effects of the past.  In the book "Healing" by Francis MacNutt, the author mentions cases where healing done by a witch doctor had to be renounced before the Christian prayer could fully heal the person.  He explains the difference between the dark forces and light forces of the spirit to be so incompatible, that people die when the two are mixed, like AC and DC currents that cause a shock to the system.\n\nI believe all energies can be used harmoniously when all people agree to work and live in harmony, instead of wishing any ill or harm or punishment to another person or group.  I believe any kind of ill thinking is the same as the negative, dark forces that are used in evil spells.  So only the positive thoughts and prayers, where you pray to heal and bless the soul of both loved ones and enemies alike, are truly selfless and not selfish.\n\nThe only way to protect yourself from the evil thoughts, wishes or spells of others is (1) to believe that love and truth conquers all fear and falseness, so whatever negative forces they manipulate in you, such as your fear, your love must be greater so you cannot be made a victim of them; (2) in cases where there is an evil presence or demonic spirit beyond your control, Christian deliverance prayer or exorcism may be required to renounce and rebuke or "cast out" the spi
325725
I have studied on that some, and I believe it is because the fact that it can so easily corrupt mankind, and because we will always have to deal with some form of it in our lives, unless we intend to be monks, or something.\n\nIt can have a power over us like nothing else can, it is easily used by the devil, because it is a necessity, like food.  It can be a blessing when used in the Kingdom manner, but it is such a curse when used with a worldview.
167159
No one has concrete answers on what happens in the after life, least of all the Bible. Your powers are something that is not based on religion. Its part of how you function, like breathing and eating. You can't get rid of them and you can't be held responisble for them being there. Don't try and force a dogmatic view on something like that. If someone tells you that your powers are of the devil then you can know in your heart that they are blissfully ignorant of the truth. You need to look inside yourself and try and fit it in your own beliefs. Don't let someone else tell you what to believe. Work it out on your own. You can't let someone else tell you how it works when they don't have the gift. Only you can do this for yourself.
103859
Scientifically, yes but uncontrollably, and only in a small area. Supernaturally is another thing and i think you can but through demonic forces (although they would masquerade as good) most of the time and not good forces. but thats for another topic to discuss.
114493
the answers could possibly come from 2 sources..the first is your subconscious like you say, and then your hand just goes in that direction...and second, demonic spirits...yuk..You don't want the second, and so if you are already answering your own questions, there is no reason to use the board.