Demons in other religions

[Ben_Sinner]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

 

[adamhovey1988]

The title of the post is not the question you’re asking.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Maybe an exorcist will drop by the forums and answer your question.

 

[LexDivina]

A priest one told me the devil doesn’t actually really possess people like in a literal sense.

He said “Obsession”, where demons are present but not taking over a person, is much more common and that he talked and prayed with people who were probably suffering from it. They weren’t spinning their heads around or climbing walls, but they had classic symptoms of “evil” being around them and/or their houses.

From what I have learned before a Catholic priest performs an exorcism they have to be evaluated by two different psychologists first who both agree there is no scientific understanding of what’s going on. In most western countries at least this seems to clear up 99% of people who someone at first thinks is possessed. Of all people who look into getting an exorcism, by this process only 1% get one.

 

[USMC_Convert]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

Your question leads to the real question behind it, can people other than Catholics end up in heaven? If yes then the answer is clear demons do this to try and make sure that those souls do not end up in heaven.

If no, then there is no answer, it would be better for the demons to leave the damned alone and let them wallow in their damnation. Actually possession or temptation would risk the person trying to become closer to God and finding the Catholic Church.

 

[dshix]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

The devil is not contradicting himself if, by creating these conflicts between the demons of false Gods and other demons against them, he leads mankind further away from virtue.

False gods are one way for Satan to lead men away from Christ, but unfortunately for him, men then go on to develop various natural virtues in the practice of those religions. It is in the devil’s interest to cause them to have more vice.

Demons are very, very intelligent, and it’s often difficult for us to comprehend the complexity of their plans to bring us down to Hell with them.

A priest one told me the devil doesn’t actually really possess people like in a literal sense.

Strictly speaking, that’s not correct. It is actually possible for people to have their bodies possessed, literally.

I think that what your priest was saying was that actual, literal possession is very uncommon, and the lesser forms of diabolical activity such as oppression and obsession, are more common. This is true.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

I believe your premise is false.

Eastern religions believe in malevolent spirits who mostly cause confusion and havoc, but since their concept of sin is different than Christians, these spirits are not responsible for temptation.

Native Americans don’t believe in demons. Malevolent spirits are ghosts of deceased people. They don’t tempt, but do cause trouble.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

Since the devil wants to destroy everyone, it wouldn’t surprise me if he took control of someone’s body and got them to commit murder. Then, if an individual committed murder while under control of the devil, it would be very hard to prove. Being charged with murder and sent off for either life in prison or the death penalty would be most likely the outcome.

 

[dshix]

Since the devil wants to destroy everyone, it wouldn’t surprise me if he took control of someone’s body and got them to commit murder. Then, if an individual committed murder while under control of the devil, it would be very hard to prove. Being charged with murder and sent off for either life in prison or the death penalty would be most likely the outcome.

That’s not quite how it works… the devil can’t force a person to sin, even when they are possessed. That person has to will it.

Remember also that Christ has absolute control over everything. A demon can possess a person only because Christ permits it. So a demon cannot lead a person to murder another person through possession unless Christ permits it.

 

[PopePiusXIISupp]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

Easy, it is a way for people to continue in their false beliefs. In one of the psalms it says that all of the gods of the gentiles are but devils. Just as long as the devil has you in his possession (not like demonic possession in this case) he will keep you in his snare, even if it means contradicting himself.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

When someone is possessed, the devil cannot make him sin. While the person is lucid and knows what is happening, he can pray and reject the devil’s attempts to make him do wrong. The devil possesses the body and not the soul.

When the devil manifests, the person usually loses consciousness. The exorcism team is known to have to restrain the individual so he won’t harm the priest or anyone else. The kid, upon whom the original Exorcist movie was made, had an incident where he pulled the spring from out of the bed and slashed the priest with it. It is the demon who acts in these instances and the person is not culpable. In fact, they may not even know what happened.

That is why when the individual is under possession, he could, theoretically hurt someone and it would not be his fault.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Easy, it is a way for people to continue in their false beliefs. In one of the psalms it says that all of the gods of the gentiles are but devils. Just as long as the devil has you in his possession (not like demonic possession in this case) he will keep you in his snare, even if it means contradicting himself.

Good answer. The devil would not be contradicting himself by trying to move a person from one false set of beliefs to another.

 

[Vico]

Almost all religions have some concept of ‘demons’ or ‘devils’ or ‘satan.’

In all these religions, these characters will try to tempt the follower away from the beliefs of that religion.

Now in Catholicism, the gods or figures these followers worship are considered demonic in themselves, such as the Hindu gods, etc.

My question is, if they are demonic, why would they be tempting the person away from that religion and risk bringing them closer to Christianity?

For example, one of the demons will say “Hinduism is false, don’t believe it.” “Buddhism and nirvana are false, don’t believe in it.” “Allah is a liar!”, etc. etc.

Why would the devil contradict himself like that?

All religions have elements of truth. The devil is a liar and the father of it.

John 8 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.