Epilepsy = demonic possession!

[Kemosloby]

There is no evidence that anything attributed to the long dead Jesus had any basis in fact, especially the less than credible stuff like so called 'miracles'.

I consider me quitting smoking as a small miracle, I prayed for that one and quit cold turkey after 20 years of smoking. Without even any kind of withdraws or desire to smoke, it was just gone. completely healed of the desire to smoke.

 

[idav]

Maybe demons were on both sides, and also on the English. Could be demons everywhere causing wars and double crosses.

The argument against a material mind is that the brain is a tranciever, an epileptic mind might me more in tune, not less so. It could be either a curse or a blessing I imagine it all depends on who you ask.

 

[Kemosloby]

The argument against a material mind is that the brain is a tranciever, an epileptic mind might me more in tune, not less so. It could be either a curse or a blessing I imagine it all depends on who you ask.

Well I won't rain any anyones' parade.

 

[Spiderman]

I am "that silly". What of it?

Seriously?

 

[leibowde84]

Someone must have assumed they meant seizures and wrote it that way. But the older version says "acting like a lunatic". Either way though, I think they link all illness to demons. How that works i'm not sure, But for example in the book of Job, Satan caused all job's illness but his illnesses were physical illnesses. Epilepsy has a physical reason, but who brought it on the victim? Blessings are brought by Angles and curses are brought by Demons. Epilepsy is no blessing.

So, are you saying that physical illnesses are curses brought on by demons?

 

[leibowde84]

Maybe demons were on both sides, and also on the English. Could be demons everywhere causing wars and double crosses.

Is there any evidence of this, though? I mean, just saying "could be" is the same as saying that you are guessing.

 

[Polymath257]

Even today they cannot cure epilepsy or heal a lunatics mind, there must be something science is overlooking...

Well, yes, there are a lot of things science doesn't yet have an answer to. That includes how to cure epilepsy (as well as cancer, and many other diseases). That doesn't mean something supernatural is going on, just that nobody has figured out how to do some things.

 

[JJ50]

Well, yes, there are a lot of things science doesn't yet have an answer to. That includes how to cure epilepsy (as well as cancer, and many other diseases). That doesn't mean something supernatural is going on, just that nobody has figured out how to do some things.

I agree.

 

[David1967]

My thought is that epilepsy and demonic possession are two different things and I believe in both. I see epilepsy as someone having a brain seizure but then returning to their normal personality. Demonic possession I see as an evil entity feeding off a person's energy and trying to experience through that possessed person.

Good point George.

 

[leibowde84]

Even today they cannot cure epilepsy or heal a lunatics mind, there must be something science is overlooking...

That's a bit irrational. Scientific/medical breakthroughs continue to happen. Medical scientific understanding is improving all the time. It stands to reason that the understanding of epilepsy and mental illness will continue to improve. There is no reason to think otherwise. There is absolutely no reason to think that there is some supernatural cause of these ailments, unless there is actual evidence of it.

To claim that science must be overlooking something supernatural is nothing more than an argument from ignorance (logical fallacy), claiming that a lack of scientific explanation somehow points to supernatural forces.

 

[David1967]

Mediterranean males are much more susceptible to hysteria related conditions

Really? Why is that?

 

[Lyndon]

Even today they cannot cure epilepsy or heal a lunatics mind, there must be something science is overlooking...

Actually you're wrong, I would be considered a lunatic if I didn't take psychiatric medication, so yes modern science can effectively cure or help control lunacy, same with epilepsy, there are all manner of medicines that can reduce the severity of epilepsy, and some really positive indications that marijuana can be used to control or prevent seizures.

 

[Super Universe]

According to Matthew 17 v 14-18 it would appear Jesus believed those suffering from epilepsy were possessed by demons! In those far off days, it might have been forgivable for people to believe in such nonsense as a major epileptic seizure is very scary indeed. I have witnessed several as my husband has the condition after his brain haemorrhage in 2006, fortunately his meds control the seizures. In this day and age of modern medicine we know the cause of this condition, and of course mythical demons have nothing to do with it.

I have come across some ultra extreme Biblical literalists who not only believe demons actually exist, but epileptics are possessed by them. Hopefully no one on this forum is that silly?

How do you explain the cause of epilepsy to a primitive human who is so uneducated about the real world that they hid inside their homes and trembled in fear when there was an eclipse?

The people believed absolutey positively that spirits could possess people. Study tribal cultures that exist today, they still believe those things.

Jesus knew the truth.

 

[oldbadger]

Really? Why is that?

Truly......
Why? I guess that huimans from various places, races etc have differing physical conditions, illnesses, strengths, etc?

But men who are susceptible to the various phsychological conditions that were once collected under the title 'hysteria' can manifest some extraordinary conditions, from apparent strokes to blindness and more.

A good example is shown in the film 'band of Brothers' where a soldier experiences blindness, possibly through stress or trauma.

It wasn't just demonic possession that Jesus was curing.

 

[oldbadger]

In the NIV Bible it mentions seizures, which are usually related to epilepsy.

...and blindness which can be attributed to hysteria.
.... and paralysis which could be attrinuted to shellfish poison paralysis.

I particularly like the curing of the blind man! I wonder whether this man had been a cunning and clever deceiver. Jesus grabs him and stuffs mud/clay in his eyes, wipes it away and asks 'How's that?'.
The 'blind' man says ,'I can see people like tress!'
How could a blind man describe the one looking like the other?
And then, after a second stuffing of mud/clay the guy gioves up....
'You've cured me!'
Yes..... Jesus was a very shrewd and clever man.

 

[oldbadger]

Even today they cannot cure epilepsy or heal a lunatics mind, there must be something science is overlooking...

There are many illnesses that science cannot cure.
That includes brining the buried deceased back to life. But then, G-John did rather alter the facts about that last passover week, yes?

 

[oldbadger]

My thought is that epilepsy and demonic possession are two different things and I believe in both. I see epilepsy as someone having a brain seizure but then returning to their normal personality. Demonic possession I see as an evil entity feeding off a person's energy and trying to experience through that possessed person.

Interesting......
So I guess that you do believe in spirits and Spiritualist clairvoyants?
I took an old friend to a spiritualist chapel yesterday for a healing session...... he did seem to benefit from it.

 

[oldbadger]

Meaning they can treat it, they can hack at the branches, but not cure it. When Jesus healed someone they were healed.

Hang on!
After Jesus had 'healed' somebody they (mostly) went out of the story and we did not hear from them again.

And a Grande Mal has about three clear stages........ 1. What I call the freeze (maybe 20-30 secs). 2. The convulsions (maybe 30-90 secs). 3. The comatose conditionwhich slowly comes back to consciousness (5-15 mins).

To onlooking peasantsthis could even look like death brought back to life, or demonic casting.

 

[oldbadger]

There is no evidence that anything attributed to the long dead Jesus had any basis in fact, especially the less than credible stuff like so called 'miracles'.

I think that there is plenty of evidence for Jesus, his mission and many stories about him. They just got exaggerated up into miracles. There could be basis for fact in most of G-Mark's accounts if you thin out the hyperbole.

 

[George-ananda]

Interesting......
So I guess that you do believe in spirits and Spiritualist clairvoyants?
I took an old friend to a spiritualist chapel yesterday for a healing session...... he did seem to benefit from it.

Yes, I do believe in these things. I have heard by now many times over enough evidence from honest and sane people. Even by science 95% of the matter/energy in the universe is not directly detectable (sometimes called dark matter).