Different perception due to one's faith?

[Jestersage]

Recently, I heard about this story from a friend of mine

Two man was working in a care home. One day, during lunch time, they talked about their workplace.

The first man, who pray every day, but otherwise a scientific guy, say that the place is excellent. He describes it’s basically a resort, with warm interior and good food. He does complain the manager to be a mean person.

The second man, who go to church every week with his pious wife, but otherwise look at woman lustfully and discuss about sexual fantasy every other moment, say the workplace feel cold and reek of death, and felt there may be spirits around them.

My friend then claim that the difference in perception is due to their faith. Since the second person, despite knowing the church’s position regarding sin, make light of it, he was especially attract to demonic influence, which being a place where old people do die, may actually have ghost around.

While it sounds like he heard from his pastor, I am wondering how possible is it for someone to have demonic influence simply because they are steeped in sin. I mean certainly, if that’s the case, many of us will be able to feel being hounded by demons, right?

 

[Monica4316]

I don’t know how to interpret the story, but I think that sinning might bring in demons yes - but most in sin wouldn’t perhaps notice them as they’re not opposing temptations. Some might feel the effects maybe

Often people who live a holy life get attacked by the devil and that’s fairly normal as they are resisting the devil and they notice his attacks. Some get attacked more than others though.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Maybe not under demonic influence because they are steeped in sin but certainly separated from God, devoid of His Grace, and operating under their own will and not the Divine Will. I wouldn’t be so quick to ascribe cold and dark feelings to spirits when the source may be the emptiness of one’s own soul.

 

[reggieM]

While it sounds like he heard from his pastor, I am wondering how possible is it for someone to have demonic influence simply because they are steeped in sin. I mean certainly, if that’s the case, many of us will be able to feel being hounded by demons, right?

It’s a good question and we would think that we would feel this influence.
But the thing about sin, especially certain kinds, is that it blinds our spiritual vision.
Eventually, we cannot see the demonic influence. The Devil wants that, of course. If we are comfortable in sin, then we will not leave.
But God and His good angels and saints constantly try to stir us up - make us uncomfortable in sin. In fact, we can eventually see the demonic influence leading us to temptations if we listen to God.
So, the person with a clean conscience will feel the demonic influences - sometimes in a very strong way. This thwarts the demons even more because we move away from the temptation.
But if we sadly fall into sin, then it is harder to see the demons - they “own” us now and will keep giving temptations to pleasures and if we give in, we get weaker and more blind. It always takes a miracle of grace to convert from sin.

I will add - it is not only demons bringing tempations. In fact, some spiritual writers say they are secondary to our own weaknesses and lack of will to do the good.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Recently, I heard about this story from a friend of mine

Two man was working in a care home. One day, during lunch time, they talked about their workplace.

The first man, who pray every day, but otherwise a scientific guy, say that the place is excellent. He describes it’s basically a resort, with warm interior and good food. He does complain the manager to be a mean person.

The second man, who go to church every week with his pious wife, but otherwise look at woman lustfully and discuss about sexual fantasy every other moment, say the workplace feel cold and reek of death, and felt there may be spirits around them.

My friend then claim that the difference in perception is due to their faith. Since the second person, despite knowing the church’s position regarding sin, make light of it, he was especially attract to demonic influence, which being a place where old people do die, may actually have ghost around.

While it sounds like he heard from his pastor, I am wondering how possible is it for someone to have demonic influence simply because they are steeped in sin. I mean certainly, if that’s the case, many of us will be able to feel being hounded by demons, right?

I agree with what Monica posted.

I also would say that we can’t tell these sorts of things. You say someone is steeped in sin, but perhaps there is hidden sin in the other that you don’t know about! This is possible, unless you are that person, but even at that we often can’t see our own sins sometimes. St. Joan of Arc herself said she was not sure if she was in a state of grace or not, not because she didn’t try to be, but because she realized there could be sin somewhere that she is not aware of because she is not God to know exactly. We can’t judge like that. We can’t tell exactly. (The church scandals of some reported to be ‘holy’ by many, but then later found out were doing heinous things is proof of this fact.)

I do say this, you bring up a curious thing… it is strange how people can have different perspectives, perceptions about things. I do think this has something to say on the interior life of a person, but it may not be a reflection of that. I do know that we are different parts of The Body of Christ… an eye would see clearly, but would not be the brain to interpret it exactly. A hand’s perspective would be different than the knee, a hearts perspective /perception would be different than that of a tendon in the foot. We all have different functions. When the knee gets hurt, the hand doesn’t say “whew thank God that’s not me! I feel fine”… no, where one part of the body hurts, the others have to pick up the slack. The rest of the body suffers. We should instead focus on the well being of each other, and work from there.

*HOW* a person believes anything will color all of the perspectives of their life.  Not even the church attempts to tell another believer exactly* how *to believe.  Even within the context of the Church teaching us *what *to believe, there are differences in perspective/perceptions among members.  This doesn't mean those with different perspectives are necessarily 'bad', though it would need to be examined closely for posterity of the Church.   This is the responsibility of every believer in The Church.....   To follow Christ (do what He says) to the best of their ability.

I also believe that our psychological make up has a lot to do with our spiritual beliefs.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

A great analogy is one from Saint Anthony the Great. Demons are like gnats. Bothersome as hell (pun slightly intended) but mostly harmless. Stay in a state of grace and don’t summon Beelzebub and should be fine.

How does this differ from reports of people now know as Saints being in a state of grace but harassed and tormented by demons? There are several cases.

 

[edwest2]

Demonic forces can and will torment anyone in a state of grace because that is what they do. I recall reading about one saint to be who had his bed shaken by some force from time to time to intimidate him. He replied to this unseen force: “A big fish is coming to confess his sins.” Those forces do not want us to seek grace or forgiveness.

Ed

 

[Dorothy]

How does this differ from reports of people now know as Saints being in a state of grace but harassed and tormented by demons? There are several cases.

Such as St. Padre Pio, and St. Gemma Galgani, along with many others.