Why do believers believe what they believe?

[PureX]

I believe this is a syndrome of blaming demons for every bad thing that happens rather than sin but I can imagine an audience that would prefer that to admitting that sin was their problem.

Most of the folks he was ministering two didn't have the luxury of such a semantic religious debate. And they were already saddled with more than enough guilt, blame, and condemnation for a lifetime. The reason the demon idea worked for them is because they had little awareness of self-will and self-empowerment. Telling them they "chose a life of sin" would be like telling them they chose a life of poverty: A lifetime of physical, mental, and spiritual abuse, and of crippling social and economic ostracism. All of which they did not choose, but nevertheless had experienced.

I believe it is highly unlikely that demons are responsible for all of that. The father of my grandson would shop lift but have no memory of doing so. That is characteristic of demon possession. He is being treated for schizophrenia which means that he takes drugs that can block his spiritual connection thereby blocking the demon. That is necessary because he won't admit that he has a demon.

Whatever works is ok by me. Being right isn't the point.