Questions on Demons

[TrustinginGod]

I have two questions relating to demons:

1. I was raised in a Protestant/Baptist church where I was taught that it is not possible for believers/Christians to be demon-possessed, because the Holy Spirit indwells us and we are therefore protected from that degree of demonic influence. From what I understand of Catholic teaching, the Church does teach the possibility that a Christian can be possessed. What, then, is the Catholic response to the argument above?
2. Fr. Vincent Serpa responded to a “quick question” on this when I searched but I’d like a little more detail. Can inanimate objects be “cursed” or somehow possessed by a demon? If yes (which seems to be the answer), is there a Scriptural basis for this? In Scripture I really only see people being demon-possessed, not non-living objects.

Thanks in advance for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

 

[Steadfast_love]

1. I was raised in a variety of Protestant churches but I most strongly identified with the Baptists. I don’t see the whole arguement written out explicitly your post, but I think the thrust is clear: *The Baptist guarentee against posession is more comprehensive and therefore better than the Catholic guarentee. * While that’s fine in and of itself, the real question is who guarentees it? I converted from mostly-Baptist to totaly Catholic so you can guess what my answer is – the Catholic guarentee is more credible and therfore better.
2. Off the top of my head, Jesus drives demons out of Legion into pigs (which are non-human) and then into hell (which is non-living). But as a practicing Catholic it appears to me that the scriptural basis of infested* things comes from the Old Testiment prohibitions on false idols. The Hebrews gave that stuff to their priests and the priests either washed or destroyed it. Catholc priests continue that tradition even to this very day.

*Things are infested, people are posessed or obsessed.

EDIT: Also in Acts there are accounts of burning magic books, which is from my point of view exactly what happens when I give occult stuff to my priest.

Acts 19:18-20
18 Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.

Read more: ewtn.com/ewtn/bible/search_bible.asp#ixzz1y7HgNCRk

 

[ricofall]

I have two questions relating to demons:

1. I was raised in a Protestant/Baptist church where I was taught that it is not possible for believers/Christians to be demon-possessed, because the Holy Spirit indwells us and we are therefore protected from that degree of demonic influence. From what I understand of Catholic teaching, the Church does teach the possibility that a Christian can be possessed. What, then, is the Catholic response to the argument above?

I do not really see an argument here. Catholics believe in demon possessions because they happen during and after Christ. It is even biblical. Here is a link to bible verse about casting out demons

As far as I understand, no where does it say that you cannot be possessed because you are a christian. The bible does elude that being a christian can protect you, but it never states that it is absolute.

1. Fr. Vincent Serpa responded to a “quick question” on this when I searched but I’d like a little more detail. Can inanimate objects be “cursed” or somehow possessed by a demon? If yes (which seems to be the answer), is there a Scriptural basis for this? In Scripture I really only see people being demon-possessed, not non-living objects.
   Thanks in advance for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

Yes they can. But the problem with non living objects is that they require someone to use them. Demons can only torment people that is allowed by God. Why God allows it is another thread.

Do not forget, as a Catholic, we do not use the bible only. In fact, the Church was the one who put together the Bible in the late 4th Century AD. Before then, all we had was the Church and her Traditions in regards to demons in this case.
Here is a video if you want a peek:
youtube.com/watch?v=kn9GaVqeAEs

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

I have a friend who is and has worked with several exorcists and is studying demonology. I do not feel comfortable giving out contact information in a public post, if you are interested please send a PM to me and I will get you the contact information to my friend.

From what my friend has said in the past,

that there are some saints that were possessed at one time or another. Just because one is Christian or a Catholic does NOT mean that this will give them an exclusive free pass from getting possessed. God’s ways our not known to us, and perhaps this experience, horrible as it is, may lead that person to a closer Union with God and a deeper trust in God. God can and will always bring a greater good out of things in people’s lives if they cooperate with His grace and Will. My friend explains this a great deal better tahn I do.

As to your second question:

I agree with the first poster. Things are infested. People are possessed.

 

[Sam_777]

I was taught that it is not possible for believers/Christians to be demon-possessed, because the Holy Spirit indwells us and we are therefore protected from that degree of demonic influence. From what I understand of Catholic teaching, the Church does teach the possibility that a Christian can be possessed. What, then, is the Catholic response to the argument above?

I personally believe that if you are a devoted Christian, then it’s impossible for any demon including Satan himself to possess you, but if you are a Christian by name and keep sinning, then I think it’s possible.

 

[Lady_Love]

I think a christian can only be possessed if they open the door to possession. Some things that open the doors are unforgiveness, sexual promiscuity, unholy soul-ties/bonds, sin that is not confessed, playing with witchcraft and cursed items etc.

I knew a girl who bought a black velvet cloak at a yard sale and when she put the cloak on at home she immediately was possessed. Fortunately she was not alone and her friend yelled at her to take off the cloak because it probably belonged to a satanist. I think they ended up burning the cloak. She seemed pretty terrified by the whole thing.