Demonic Possession

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My main question is to determine, if possible, why demons possess humans. The motive of the demon is self evident, to increase the empire of hell. But how is it that demons get to possess humans? Is this an absolute unknown, or are there some clues that theologians have speculated about as to why some people have been possessed, but relatively few so far as we know?

I am not so much interested in discussing exorcism as in answering the question of why and how demons possess humans. For example, is there some moral or character defect in the human that invites the devil to do the devil’s work?
 
This quote from the first article you cited is interesting.

“The devil is present everywhere that evil things happen within the normal laws of nature. In anyone who says: I don´t accept love, the love of my brothers and sisters, the love of God.”

This quote from the second article was interesting:

“First, the stories I collected add up to a giant neon sign saying “Stay away from witchcraft” and other occult practices. When I asked exorcists if witchcraft is a gateway to more serious demonic activity, they were incredulous. Gateway? It’s directly dealing with the demonic! Nearly everyone they treat has been exposed in some way to Ouija boards, spells, hexes, “white magic,” or tarot cards—the stuff your local chain bookstore fills its shelves with because it sells so well.”

Thank you for the citations.
 
From what I understand, demons are evil spirits who simply love to cause chaos and spread misery.

If I remember correctly, (and I could be wrong) I believe the Catholic dogma states that the demons are jealous of human beings. Having a chance to experience things as one would be high on their list.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
My main question is to determine, if possible, why demons possess humans. The motive of the demon is self evident, to increase the empire of hell. But how is it that demons get to possess humans? Is this an absolute unknown, or are there some clues that theologians have speculated about as to why some people have been possessed, but relatively few so far as we know?

I am not so much interested in discussing exorcism as in answering the question of why and how demons possess humans. For example, is there some moral or character defect in the human that invites the devil to do the devil’s work?
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One easy answer: Because God allows it. Does it make God cruel? Absolutely not! There are several means or mediums which allow people to be possessed (i.e.,spells,the occult,curses,Ouija board,etc). Remember, fallen angels retained their angelical faculties yet distorted due to their sins. As a result, they too have free-will as we humans have from God. God however does place limits on their influences on mankind.
 
So are we to believe that demons can only possess those who are open to being possessed, that is, those who want to know the devil and invite him to come closer?
 
Charlemagne_III said:
So are we to believe that demons can only possess those who are open to being possessed, that is, those who want to know the devil and invite him to come closer?
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From what I read from exorcist priest…one is looking for trouble, he or she will get it. However, from what I recall in my research, at times an exorcist priest simply does not know how an individual was possessed even he or she was not looking for it.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
My main question is to determine, if possible, why demons possess humans. The motive of the demon is self evident, to increase the empire of hell.
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I don’t think it’s self evident. Possession seems a ham handed approach. A sneaky approach where you don’t know you’ve wandered off course seems more diabolical.
 
If you invite the evil one in, he will accept, " I will give you all this is if you bow down and worship me ." Jesus refused !
 
Charlemagne_III said:
My main question is to determine, if possible, why demons possess humans. The motive of the demon is self evident, to increase the empire of hell. But how is it that demons get to possess humans? Is this an absolute unknown, or are there some clues that theologians have speculated about as to why some people have been possessed, but relatively few so far as we know?

I am not so much interested in discussing exorcism as in answering the question of why and how demons possess humans. For example, is there some moral or character defect in the human that invites the devil to do the devil’s work?
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I know you are expecting a response from a Catholic/Christian perspective, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth:

Demons (if that is what you would like to call them) are just discarnate (ie without a physical body) evil spirits that would like to inhabit a human body just in order to experience physical existence or to control the body to do specific things. There are two types of humans which these evil, astral spirits can possess - those humans who have weak wills, so it is difficult for such persons to resist the attempt by spirits to take over their body. The other type of human they can possess are humans that are innately evil and so match the temperament of the spirit which wants to possess them.

Children or mentally ill people are of the first type who would be susceptible to such attempts but are normally protected by the environment in which they live (clean and/or spiritual) as well as by their guardian angels…

The second type of persons are like Hitler who may have been possessed by such a spirit (a very powerful one). Hitler was also rumored to have been quite afraid of this demon (or so it says in some book)…
 
openmind77 said:
The second type of persons are like Hitler who may have been possessed by such a spirit (a very powerful one). Hitler was also rumored to have been quite afraid of this demon (or so it says in some book)…
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Well, I don’t doubt that Hitler was possessed by the devil in the sense that Roscoe suggested. But I don’t see the evidence that he was possessed in the sense that we are talking about. From what I have read about Hitler, he was on a variey of drug cocktails for much of his adult life, so the insane cruelties of his regime might be traceable more so to the drugs than to actual possession of Hitler by a devil. This is one of those gray areas where an exorcist would have to judge between psychotic behavior and demonic possession, and might have difficulty doing that without the assistance of a psychiatrist.
 
Nicea325 said:
From what I read from exorcist priest…one is looking for trouble, he or she will get it. However, from what I recall in my research, at times an exorcist priest simply does not know how an individual was possessed even he or she was not looking for it.
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Yes, it’s a puzzlement! I guess there is no way to know for certain unless there was documented proof that the one possessed had negotiated a deal with the devil.
 
Nicea325 said:
One easy answer: Because God allows it. Does it make God cruel? Absolutely not! There are several means or mediums which allow people to be possessed (i.e.,spells,the occult,curses,Ouija board,etc). Remember, fallen angels retained their angelical faculties yet distorted due to their sins. As a result, they too have free-will as we humans have from God. God however does place limits on their influences on mankind.
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You are correct in that God allows them to do these things, but if you are like me, have you ever wondered WHY God would even allow them ANYTHING, especially keeping in mind the ‘crime/sin’ the fallen angels committed against God…I would have thought God would have just turned them all into dust right there on the spot instead of just kicking them out of heaven…??

Also, Since he is allowing the demons to do certain things, arent they supposed to be in a state of torment, suffering and punishment? Doesnt seem to me that they are suffering that much, in that they seem to take great pleasure in the evil they inflict upon mankind, I also wonder how and why they are even able to leave Hell in the first place.

Im assuming then since the demons are able and allowed to do such things, then human souls that end up in hell are also allowed to do such things, especially since humans are more important to God than the fallen angels, so it only seems probable God would allow human souls in hell to do at least everything the demons can do, if not more…right?
 
mikekle said:
You are correct in that God allows them to do these things, but if you are like me, have you ever wondered WHY God would even allow them ANYTHING, especially keeping in mind the ‘crime/sin’ the fallen angels committed against God…I would have thought God would have just turned them all into dust right there on the spot instead of just kicking them out of heaven…??

Also, Since he is allowing the demons to do certain things, arent they supposed to be in a state of torment, suffering and punishment? Doesnt seem to me that they are suffering that much, in that they seem to take great pleasure in the evil they inflict upon mankind, I also wonder how and why they are even able to leave Hell in the first place.

Im assuming then since the demons are able and allowed to do such things, then human souls that end up in hell are also allowed to do such things, especially since humans are more important to God than the fallen angels, so it only seems probable God would allow human souls in hell to do at least everything the demons can do, if not more…right?
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God allows evil so that greater good may come of it. How many souls have been converted to the true religion because of demonic activity? I would say a good many. Those that are lost because of that activity would be lost anyway because of their wills.

I believe God allows demonic activity to save souls and because He is merciful, even to demons.

In answer to the original question, the devil and his minions cannot take our free will, it is our one ‘infinite power’ so to speak. Possession takes a fiat from the will in question. A person will not be possessed without a free act of the will or at least a mixed act in the Aristotelian sense (act of will under coercion.)
 
JP2Admirer said:
God allows evil so that greater good may come of it. How many souls have been converted to the true religion because of demonic activity? I would say a good many. Those that are lost because of that activity would be lost anyway because of their wills.

I believe God allows demonic activity to save souls and because He is merciful, even to demons.

In answer to the original question, the devil and his minions cannot take our free will, it is our one ‘infinite power’ so to speak. Possession takes a fiat from the will in question. A person will not be possessed without a free act of the will or at least a mixed act in the Aristotelian sense (act of will under coercion.)
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Although its not really demonic (that I know of anyway), what kind of greater good could possibly come from allowing 1000s of poor tribal people living in Africa to go without a single drop of rain, sometimes for as long as a year?!!

Ive watched documentaries on tribes like this, some of the people look like skeletons, but if it would just rain a little bit, their lives would be greatly improved, but God wont even give them that…things like this really make me wonder sometimes.
 
mikekle said:
Although its not really demonic (that I know of anyway), what kind of greater good could possibly come from allowing 1000s of poor tribal people living in Africa to go without a single drop of rain, sometimes for as long as a year?!!

Ive watched documentaries on tribes like this, some of the people look like skeletons, but if it would just rain a little bit, their lives would be greatly improved, but God wont even give them that…things like this really make me wonder sometimes.
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I agree with the sentiment, why would a good God allow such evil? Why is there starvation in the world? It makes it tough to believe in a benevolent God.

My answer to that is twofold; a material world without corruption (in the physical sense, not moral sense) is a contradiction. Matter necessarily tends to non-existence as it lacks perfection (see entropy). So without sustaining grace, which Christianity explains was lost at the fall, matter must tend to corruption. Hence, suffering is in the world.

Why doesn’t God do something about this? He did. He died on the cross to show us He is not ignorant of our suffering due to sin. At the same time, He showed us that suffering has redemptive value. So the suffering of these emaciated people is not in vain. Perhaps that suffering is redeeming their souls or the souls of others. Perhaps upon death, souls will approach them and thank them for their salvation as the earthly suffering bought them into heaven. Perhaps these tribes will avoid purgatory because of their earthly suffering.

It is very easy to think humanly in these situations, but we need to think eschatologically. God has a bigger picture in view.

Also, because God to the naked eye, in non spiritual terms, seems to do nothing in these situations, we tend to wonder at His goodness. But I think we blame God for the devil’s work. The devil is reveling in and actively causing the suffering; God is utilizing the misery to bring about salvation. Of course, suffering is a test of the will, so it can work both ways, for salvation or damnation. These tribes are typically demon worshippers as well, so there is no doubt the devil is involved with this. Demons can manipulate nature, so to prove their power or gain false worship, they will control weather to show their power. God allows it so as to utilize suffering for salvation. The whole interplay between good and evil is exceedingly mysterious, but someday we’ll see how God’s justice was at work in all things.
 
mikekle said:
Although its not really demonic (that I know of anyway), what kind of greater good could possibly come from allowing 1000s of poor tribal people living in Africa to go without a single drop of rain, sometimes for as long as a year?!!

Ive watched documentaries on tribes like this, some of the people look like skeletons, but if it would just rain a little bit, their lives would be greatly improved, but God wont even give them that…things like this really make me wonder sometimes.
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Please explain how the universe could be designed so that there are never any natural disasters on this planet.
 
Roscoe_Turner said:
I don’t think it’s self evident. Possession seems a ham handed approach. A sneaky approach where you don’t know you’ve wandered off course seems more diabolical.
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If diabolical stratagems weren’t varied they wouldn’t be so effective; they would be far easier to predict and defeat.
The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist.
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  • CHARLES BAUDELAIRE
 
Charlemagne_III said:
So are we to believe that demons can only possess those who are open to being possessed, that is, those who want to know the devil and invite him to come closer?
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Saints also have been tormented by the devil (though maybe not possessed). The book I’m currently reading, ‘The Rite’ by Matt Baglio, suggests that the closer to sainthood a person gets, the more likely he/ she is to come under demonic attention. God allows this, because through the trial a person is going to come even closer to Him 👍
 
SilverCamellia said:
Saints also have been tormented by the devil (though maybe not possessed). The book I’m currently reading, ‘The Rite’ by Matt Baglio, suggests that the closer to sainthood a person gets, the more likely he/ she is to come under demonic attention. God allows this, because through the trial a person is going to come even closer to Him 👍
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I’d hate that. I actively try to keep a low profile from such evil things. 😦
 
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