Demons, is there any evidence they even exist?

[Hockeycowboy]

Read the news, or study anthropology - either source will elucidate the existence of demons. Man's actions throughout history defy his intelligence - there is clearly an external force that influences man to act contrary to conscience, morality and pragmatism, and even self-preservation.

Yours is a very practical-thinking post, I appreciate it!

It is amazing though…. Everyone wants peace, but it seems to elude mankind & his efforts to make it happen.

And although many claim that “conditions are getting better”…. I’m afraid it is technological advances that mask how bad things really are. Skeptics are always saying, “We’re living longer than ever before.” Yes, but what kind of quality is it? Worldwide, there’s more stress, emotional pain, selfishness & greed than ever before, adding to the distress of countless others. And as for sex…”anything goes! After all, we’re only animals.” (Or so the conditioned thinking has it.) And because most of society allows this nonchalant & irreverent attitude toward sex, making it easier to get…. the number of broken families & unhappiness increases.

OK, I’ll stop.

IMO

 

[Hockeycowboy]

…Clarita Villanueva…

Never heard of her, but I’ll check it out. Thanks!

 

[Hockeycowboy]

I have no idea how you know that God doesn't reach out to anybody.

Actually, He did, has, and does.
Jesus, as God’s representative, told his disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them….” Matt. 28:19,20
Jesus further stated: “And this good news of the Kingdom (the Kingdom Christians pray for, in Matt. 6:9,10) will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness….and then the end will come.”

But today, very few people (compared to the world population) know what that Kingdom is….

But a loving god that wants the best for us, should and would [reach out].

And He does still. He has witnesses (Isa.43:10-12….”the LORD” there, is Yahweh/Jehovah).
These very ones (Jehovah’s Witnesses) regularly go from door to door, explaining that “good news of the Kingdom.” What they tell others about God’s Kingdom (His government), what it will do for mankind & the earth, really is good news.

So, in one sense, I agree with @Trailblazer, she is right…. He does have messengers. But He does reach out….through them.

IMO

 

[danieldemol]

Read the news, or study anthropology - either source will elucidate the existence of demons.

You have a peer-reviewed anthropology study explaining demons?! Do share, this should be interesting.

Man's actions throughout history defy his intelligence - there is clearly an external force that influences man to act contrary to conscience, morality and pragmatism, and even self-preservation.

I believe no external force is required to explain these, only observed and tested chemical imbalance and brain deformity etc.

In my opinion.

 

[SkepticThinker]

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

That doesn't prove it.

 

[SkepticThinker]

Actually, He did, has, and does.
Jesus, as God’s representative, told his disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them….” Matt. 28:19,20
Jesus further stated: “And this good news of the Kingdom (the Kingdom Christians pray for, in Matt. 6:9,10) will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness….and then the end will come.”

But today, very few people (compared to the world population) know what that Kingdom is….

And He does still. He has witnesses (Isa.43:10-12….”the LORD” there, is Yahweh/Jehovah).
These very ones (Jehovah’s Witnesses) regularly go from door to door, explaining that “good news of the Kingdom.” What they tell others about God’s Kingdom (His government), what it will do for mankind & the earth, really is good news.

So, in one sense, I agree with @Trailblazer, she is right…. He does have messengers. But He does reach out….through them.

IMO

Okay so you say God does reach out, and a different believer says God does not reach out.

I have no idea that any God exists at all.

So how do we figure out who's got it right here?

 

[Left Coast]

Don’t attempt to belittle me. As an RF moderator, you should be above such behavior.

I didn't belittle you. I asked you a question that was quite serious.

But to answer your question…. Yes.
Evidence is what we find through observation. Facts. (Which is what I presented.)
Assertions can have no factual basis. But assertions can also be explanations or interpretations of presented facts. Again, like the facts I provided, those details we’ve discovered.

What you haven't explained is how a global Flood explains the facts as we observe them and not in some other way and how the evidence led you to that conclusion. Nor have you explained, other than by assertion, why no other explanation would do. What do actual professional scientists believe caused animals to be frozen in permafrost?

I’m not here to brag about my degrees, but probably further than you did. Probably further than most.

Please share. I have a Masters degree though it's not in geology. I promise you, your degrees won't intimidate me.

It does explain them. And it did produce the data we find.

As far as what we don’t find….it was a *controlled* event, as I stated earlier in this thread (i.e., divinely inspired). It achieved its purpose.

This is an excuse that makes your explanation unfalsifiable.

You know what other controlled event would explain animals frozen in permafrost? Aliens did it.

From where, do you think, did all of the diverse and varied legends — the Norse, Roman, Hindi, and numerous unrelated others — get their one common idea of their respective gods ‘sleeping with human women’? (Zeus begetting Hercules, for example). That common thread is found in the brief historical description provided in Gen. 6:1-4, “the sons of the True God began to notice the daughters of men…..they went taking wives for themselves, all whom they chose.”

Hold on - why should we accept that the Bible's version of this theme is the historical one? And not some other?

Where is the evidence of their offspring, who were allegedly giants?

These sons of God were later described at 2Pet.2:4 as “the angels that sinned,” the ones mentioned in Jude vs.6 who “forsook their proper dwelling place.”

These once angelic creatures, using their FreeWill, chose to rebel too, and became the demons, fellow cohorts of Satan.

It also explains why the Flood had to be a global one: a localized one would not have accomplished God’s purpose….and it doesn’t fit the narrative, anyway.

God's purpose was what? To kill the nephilim? He had to kill everyone to kill them?

I don’t think I’ve wasted my time…Oh, I know it probably won’t sway you. But I posted these details for others to read; maybe they’ll see how it all fits, & appreciate the explanations.

Wish you the best.

Ditto.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Let me put it this way to you...some posters here claim to hear voices and more. I won't go any further now but I wonder if you believe them as if they are telling the truth.

Well, there are tests to see whether you are “hearing “ something. The catch is that it won’t discern the origin.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

As I told someone recently, God can help a person but they have to want help. No one can help someone but God in the fine sense.

God sat around doing nothing for 4 centuries while His chosen people cried out for help. He never saved people who suffered and died for 399 years.

 

[Muffled]

Do people on here deal with the paranormal and spirits? Do you call them by other names? I call those spirits demons that aren’t The Holy Spirit.
Concerning demons, I haven’t seen a demon with my eyes but have seen them manifest in people and seen them expelled In the Name of Jesus!
They scream, snort, fits of rage, snarl, make a person disfigure their body and stuff before they’re cast out and the person is left free from them.

I believe the other term for spirits would be ghosts. My and my wife's demons were tame and never got a foothold. They left on their own when sung a song about Jesus. It seems they can't stand that.

 

[Muffled]

Well, there are tests to see whether you are “hearing “ something. The catch is that it won’t discern the origin.

I believe that is news to me. I have had experience with things generated by my mind and as far as I know, I am the only one who knows the difference.

 

[Muffled]

God sat around doing nothing for 4 centuries while His chosen people cried out for help. He never saved people who suffered and died for 399 years.

I believe that is speculation. There is no record of what was happening in those 399 years. It could very well have been the case that things only got bad in year 400.

 

[YoursTrue]

God sat around doing nothing for 4 centuries while His chosen people cried out for help. He never saved people who suffered and died for 399 years.

No, God didn't "sit around doing nothing." He is there; He will end all badness and sadness soon. People die, God allows that now. People do bad, bad things. He allows that. The time is coming that these things will not happen.

 

[YoursTrue]

I believe that is news to me. I have had experience with things generated by my mind and as far as I know, I am the only one who knows the difference.Ve

Very interesting. I used to "tune in" to other-worldly experiences and no longer do, but it's a personal decision, although I believe God is helping me because I want to do what is right in HIS eyes and those "other-worldly" experiences didn't help me anyway. Now I am satisfied with what I know and experience, meaning my relationship with God. (John 17:3 is a great scripture.)
Getting back to your comment, the brain is obviously capable of doing strange things. On the bright side, since I want to please God I no longer play with things that He does not want his worshippers to do. And yes, while I am still imperfect, I am much much happier. Just to say.

 

[YoursTrue]

Well, there are tests to see whether you are “hearing “ something. The catch is that it won’t discern the origin.

There is a woman I know of who has been diagnosed with dementia. She claims to hear voices and speaks to people others can't see. I can't tell and neither can the doctors what the problem really is, she is on medication which seems to help.

 

[YoursTrue]

I didn't belittle you. I asked you a question that was quite serious.


What you haven't explained is how a global Flood explains the facts as we observe them and not in some other way and how the evidence led you to that conclusion. Nor have you explained, other than by assertion, why no other explanation would do. What do actual professional scientists believe caused animals to be frozen in permafrost?



Please share. I have a Masters degree though it's not in geology. I promise you, your degrees won't intimidate me.



This is an excuse that makes your explanation unfalsifiable.

You know what other controlled event would explain animals frozen in permafrost? Aliens did it.



Hold on - why should we accept that the Bible's version of this theme is the historical one? And not some other?

Where is the evidence of their offspring, who were allegedly giants?



God's purpose was what? To kill the nephilim? He had to kill everyone to kill them?



Ditto.

I believe there was a flood. It sounds astounding, yes, that is true. I wasn't there in the immediate aftermath, so I cannot testify personally, however, I thought about it and accept it as true. God, the Almighty One, can do whatever He wants. Many people are getting very frightened about the state of the times we are living in now. Jesus spoke of this and paralleled it with the days of Noah.

 

[Trailblazer]

So, in one sense, I agree with @Trailblazer, she is right…. He does have messengers. But He does reach out….through them.

Yes, that is how God reaches out, and those who believe in Him are the messengers for the Messengers.

 

[YoursTrue]

I didn't belittle you. I asked you a question that was quite serious.


What you haven't explained is how a global Flood explains the facts as we observe them and not in some other way and how the evidence led you to that conclusion. Nor have you explained, other than by assertion, why no other explanation would do. What do actual professional scientists believe caused animals to be frozen in permafrost?



Please share. I have a Masters degree though it's not in geology. I promise you, your degrees won't intimidate me.



This is an excuse that makes your explanation unfalsifiable.

You know what other controlled event would explain animals frozen in permafrost? Aliens did it.



Hold on - why should we accept that the Bible's version of this theme is the historical one? And not some other?

Where is the evidence of their offspring, who were allegedly giants?



God's purpose was what? To kill the nephilim? He had to kill everyone to kill them?



Ditto.

If you have a level of science education that is so great then please do answer questions to those who may not have such a high education as you, in a clear and coherent way. Thank you. I've noticed that people say things in terms that the lay person may not understand and then tell them (sometimes) that they should get an education. That's almost like the religious leaders that put down a young man who Jesus healed because he didn't know as much as they did.

 

[SkepticThinker]

There is a woman I know of who has been diagnosed with dementia. She claims to hear voices and speaks to people others can't see. I can't tell and neither can the doctors what the problem really is, she is on medication which seems to help.

It sounds like the doctors do know what the problem is: Dementia.

 

[Left Coast]

I believe there was a flood. It sounds astounding, yes, that is true. I wasn't there in the immediate aftermath, so I cannot testify personally, however, I thought about it and accept it as true. God, the Almighty One, can do whatever He wants. Many people are getting very frightened about the state of the times we are living in now. Jesus spoke of this and paralleled it with the days of Noah.

This is the problem with omnipotence - it fits any/all data. It's unfalsifiable.