A Question for Christians (to Doug)

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LARSON
What is a demon?

(DAVE 2/13)  Doug:  The word "demon", like so many words, can have various 
meanings - I'm not sure that it has one "single" definition.  If one 
consults either a Biblical or a secular dictionary, you'll find this to be 
the case - they certainly don't have a single definition in either case.  
The word has obviously been widely used by a wide variety of people - to the 
point where it takes on several meanings.

As far as what it means to me?  That's a good question, as I can't say I am 
exactly sure.  I have always associated a "demon" as being a supernatural 
evil influence on our world - I base this on the implications, both in 
everyday usage of the word and, more importantly, in the Biblical usage of 
the word, that something "demonic", is something that is "not good", if not 
"evil".

I assume your question is meant in the context of the Bible and, 
specifically, Christianity though.  To that end, I, like you, can only refer 
to the Scriptures to find what they say about demons to formulate our 
understanding of it - I have found the following items it suggests 
concerning demons, and would welcome any additional ones you, or others, can 
present as well:

* It says demons "are not God"  (Deut 32:17)
* Pagan worship is associated with demons (Ex 22:30 and 1 Cor 10:20)
* That demons somehow can inhabit a person and have the capacity and freedom 
to be able to do so (Matt 7:22)
* That demons can be forced from this inhabitance against their will - this 
may also imply that they have the capacity to choose to stay somewhere, 
implying they have "will" - the other alternative is that they are being 
forced to inhabit that person in the first place by a being who has "will" 
(Matt 7:22)
* That Jesus has power and authority over demons (Mark 1:34)
* That human beings can have power over demons through Christ (Matt 7:22)
* That demons can speak in some way (or shout) (Mark 1:34, Luke 4:41)
* That demons know who Jesus is (Mark 1:34)
* That "Beelzebub", or Satan, is not only a "demon", but the "prince of 
demons" - in some way, either the leader or ultimate "demon" (Mark 3:22) - 
Jesus more or less confirms this in his response in the next verse when he 
implies that if one is driving out demons, one is driving out Satan
* That demons can be in large groups (Mark 5:9)
* That more than one demon can inhabit or possess a single person (Mark 5) - 
this is also supported  later when we are told that Mary Magdalene was 
possessed by at least seven demons (Mark 16:9)
* There is a place that Jesus (and possibly all those capable of driving out 
demons) has the option of sending demons, referred to as the "Abyss", to 
which demons do not want to go (Luke 8:31)
* It seems possible that the demon and the possessed SHARE the same 
attributes - this may be a wayward inference to make, but Luke 11:14 and 15 
state that the demon was mute, as was the man the demon possessed (Luke 
11:14-15)
* Jesus gives demons no gender specification, but instead refers to a demon 
as "it" (Luke 11:24-26)
* Paul infers in Romans 8 that demons and angels may be on the same "level" 
and are opposites - I make this inference by looking at the other items he 
has listed death/life, present/future etc - this may mean that demons 
parallel angels on the "evil" side (Romans 8:38)
* Demons have the capacity to "teach" and that these teachings do not 
correspond to, or support, faith in Jesus Christ (1 Tim 4:1)
* Demons believe that there is one God (James 2:19)
* The fact that there is one God makes demons "shudder" (James 2 :19)
* That demons are worshipped (Rev 9:20)

Those are some of the concepts I get from the Scriptures - I'm not certain 
that gets us any closer to defining a "demon" but may help us in pointing 
out some of the "characteristics" of a demon, in the context of how the 
Bible treats them. 

Thanks for the question, Doug, I haven't really considered the thought too 
closely and have found it interesting.

Regards,

Dave









"Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of 
things which are beyond it."
                     - Blaise Pascal

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