Has there ever been a case in the Bible and/or in general history of a case like this?

[MrSnaith]

Well, from a strictly human perspective, the results of the first sin were:

• The introduction of death to humanity - humans now suffer death.
• The introduction of disease and infirmity to humanity - humans now suffer disease and infirmity.
• The introduction of concupiscence - humans now tend toward doing the evil.
• The introduction of “difficulty” - humans now have to “toil” to do the good (men toil to till the earth, women toil in giving birth, etc).
• The loss of paradise - humans no long reside in paradise - however you want to interpret that to mean.
• The loss of knowledge / a darkening of the intellect - humans are no longer born/created with preternatural knowledge.

There were also some natural consequences:

• The first two great commands were “Increase and multiply” and “Subdue the earth.” With respect to the second, the implication is that we were created to tame the wildness of nature. Indeed, in the new covenant, when the Kingdom of God is established for eternity the “lion and the lamb” will lie together. Aside from the deeper theological meaning belonging to this, I think there is a harkening back to our original purpose, which is to subdue the earth. So, with respect to your book, you may wish to present an “increased sense of wildness” in the “thinned” area, such that animals are more vicious or timid, and natural phenomena (like storms and earthquakes, etc) are somehow more violent and unpredictable.

 

[roseproject]

Thanks again for all the replies!

After doing a little research and reading exorcist interviews, here’s an alternate question I’d like to pose:

It would seem that demons and even disembodied spirits can attach themselves/possess inanimate objects and houses. Now, can they go so far as possessing entire places; the land itself?

 

[seagal]

Just for fun I put your question in google to see what would come up. I found this at gotquestions[dot]com, which is a Christian site. Although it’s not Catholic I think the views expressed about this issue would probably be the same.

**Question: “Can demons attach themselves to non-living/inanimate objects?”

Answer: ** There is no biblical support to the idea that demons can attach themselves to physical objects. This belief is actually part of superstitious practices and occult beliefs found in animistic cultures and among those who practice the occult.

Some say that verses such as Acts 19:19, where former magicians burned their magic books, prove that objects can have demons. But the passage does not say that. It is more likely that these new believers were burning their magic books to prevent the spread of lies and to show that they were now believers in Jesus.

The Bible records stories of demons afflicting or possessing unbelieving people. But they are no stories of demons being in or attached to objects, and the Bible does not warn us about demons attaching themselves to objects. Occult practices may attract evil spirits, and, since certain objects are used in those practices, it might seem that the demons are attracted to the objects; however, this does not mean the demons are in the objects. It is the occult activity itself that attracts them. When people who have been involved in the occult come to Christ, they are often advised to get rid of their occult books and objects, not because the objects have demons in them, but because the books and objects would be a source for future temptation.

Believers in Christ are not to fear demons, although we are to be vigilant and alert for their temptations (1 Peter 5:8). The key is submission to God and walking in the truth of Christ daily: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Those who have put their faith in Christ have nothing to fear, as the apostle John explained, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome [Satan and his false prophets], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Read more: gotquestions.org/demons-objects.html#ixzz3Q1g4Jobk

Hope you find that helpful.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

**Where the sins of a human or perhaps multiple humans caused strange phenomina on the physical, natural world…? **

If you think about it that is exactly what Gen1 is saying!
The “natural world” compared to Eden is pretty much what you want - due to Original Sin.

Another place where the border between hell and earth thinned is the heart of every person since Adam and Eve…hence the possibility of possession.

 

[MrSnaith]

Thanks again for all the replies!

After doing a little research and reading exorcist interviews, here’s an alternate question I’d like to pose:

It would seem that demons and even disembodied spirits can attach themselves/possess inanimate objects and houses. Now, can they go so far as possessing entire places; the land itself?

For any good that we can find, we can also find a perverted form of that good (what we call evil). So, with respect to objects, the Church has Sacramentals. These objects are blessed, and on a basic level represent “tools” through which God’s grace is exercised.

Likewise in the occult world, witches and warlocks and witch-doctors place “hexes” or curses upon objects, making them “tools” through which demons exercise their demonic powers. This isn’t done in an attempt to imitate God to His glory, but rather it’s done to mock Him.

Nevertheless, we should be quick to understand that the demons don’t “take possession” of these objects in the same sense that they take possession of people. Rather, they simply use these, and other objects, to demonstrate their power, and to convince and terrify observers of their strength and fierceness.

So, with respect to your question about possession of the land, I would say to hearken back to ancient nature religions, who worshiped the “spirits” of nature. There may be a hint of this kind of demonic work in these old religions.

 

[roseproject]

For any good that we can find, we can also find a perverted form of that good (what we call evil). So, with respect to objects, the Church has Sacramentals. These objects are blessed, and on a basic level represent “tools” through which God’s grace is exercised.

Likewise in the occult world, witches and warlocks and witch-doctors place “hexes” or curses upon objects, making them “tools” through which demons exercise their demonic powers. This isn’t done in an attempt to imitate God to His glory, but rather it’s done to mock Him.

So, with respect to your question about possession of the land, I would say to hearken back to ancient nature religions, who worshiped the “spirits” of nature. There may be a hint of this kind of demonic work in these old religions.

This is actually a prominent theme in my story: the nature of a good thing or action changes when it becomes corrupted with an evil (distorted love can turn into lust, for an example). There is an “anti-form” of just about every good thing as long as there is sin in the world.

 

[Jubilarian]

…Where the sins of a human or perhaps multiple humans caused strange phenomina on the physical, natural world…?

Yes, this is a strange question…but I’m asking because, depending on the answer of this question, it may help me get out of a plot hole in the story I’m writing

In short, there is a vital plot point in my story where, in a certain place in my story’s world, monstrous acts of hatred where committed long ago…so much so, that the veil between hell and earth thinned in that place…and began to cause strange phenomina of a physical and supernatural nature…bad things, not to spoil anything…(also, this is still a developing concept in my story so…yep ). Is this at all compatible with our theology or do you think it is too far-fetched? Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance

I will be straightforward with you. I personally don’t care for fictional accounts of theology. I mean, a bunch of “what it’s” for entertainment purposes. Basic sci fi is good enough for me. If it helps, it sounds like a demons on earth type thing and certainly that is occurring.

 

[lightbeamrider]

Well, those were inflicted by the hand of God pretty much (right?);

God was the agent. The root cause was the Pharaoh, and by extension, the Egyptians who murdered male Hebrew infants by throwing them into the river. Also Leviticus 18 lists offenses by both Egypt and Canaan. Both include infant homicide. Pharaoh abused his power by cruel treatment of those Israelites under his care. Moderns attribute man causes global climate change through greenhouse gases and would reject the notion the cause of global catastrophe would have anything to do with humans sinning against God and abusing their fellow humans as primitive.

it was a more supernatural phenomena then something that would normally happen if a series of events took place; in other words, it wasn’t something that would normally happen in a regular circumstance if A and B were put together.

So, not exactly what I’m looking for.

Adam was explicitly promised death. After the fall the serpent is cursed directly and the ground was cursed in the place of Adam. In Romans 8, Paul writes creation would be set free from slavery and corruption and his audience did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear…(8:15) creation subject to futility and groaning (8:20-22). Well all that is vague and one has to wonder the condition of creation pre fall as opposed to the condition post fall. Either way, and it is all over Scripture, humans have a generally negative effect on creation. An exception seems to be early Canaan where there was general abundance right alongside of infant sacrifice by humans.

 

[roseproject]

God was the agent. The root cause was the Pharaoh, and by extension, the Egyptians who murdered male Hebrew infants by throwing them into the river. Also Leviticus 18 lists offenses by both Egypt and Canaan. Both include infant homicide. Pharaoh abused his power by cruel treatment of those Israelites under his care.QUOTE]

That’s what I meant Since God was the agent which caused the plagues (because of Pharaoh sins), the plagues would be classified as a miracle, right? I mean, if someone else did something similar to what pharaoh did, they wouldn’t automatically be subject to plagues such as in the case in Exodus.

 

[roseproject]

Guess I’ll be reviving this thread somewhat hehe

Apparently, there’s a demonic phenomenon called “infestation” in which a demonic presence takes hold of a particular object or place. It usually happens when demonic activity occurred in such a place.

ncregister.com/site/article/good-vs.-evil-spiritual-warfare/