• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

spiritual warfare?

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
Is "spiritual warfare" a valid pursuit?

I mean, is there really an "enemy" who seeks to undermine the faith of believers? And keep them from God? And to inhibit the will of God and hinder his plans?

And can this enemy be confounded by the power of prayer and the strength of one's faith?

Or is it all just paranoia?

Personally, I'm not 100% sure although on balance I think it is probably a thing

Personally, I believe I may be haunted by a demon. But this isn't about me. That's a whole other story...

I was wondering what other people think :D
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Warfare refers to armed conflict between nations. Which nations are at war?

If there are no nations involved, a better choice of words is probably in order. In my experience, the concept of "nations" barely (if at all) applies to the otherworlds. There are entities with particular goals that conflict with those of other entities. That's about it.
 

Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I see spiritual warfare as a metaphor to describe the struggle within ourselves to overcome the tenacity of the ego to assert itself against being diminished by the spiritual will. The ego does not like the idea of becoming less important in us. So it works against us letting it go and surrendering to the spiritual will.

Paul puts that struggle perfectly. "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." The ironic thing is, is the more we use force to overcome the ego, the more we feed the ego. To try to overcome the ego, with the ego, is still the ego.
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
Which nations are at war?
It could be said that The Kingdom of Heaven is a nation that is at war

But that it is involved in a spiritual conflict, not an armed conflict, a "cold war" perhaps, a battle to influence souls

But nonetheless there is a battle between adversaries in which much is at stake
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
It could be said that The Kingdom of Heaven is a nation that is at war

But that it is involved in a spiritual conflict, not an armed conflict, a "cold war" perhaps, a battle to influence souls

But nonetheless there is a battle between adversaries in which much is at stake

Hmm. I'll grant I'm not plugged in to the Christian aspects of the otherworlds, and they do tell stories about such things. It's not something I have any direct experience with. I'm okay with that. From what little I know of their stories, it's not something I'd want to spend my time or energy on.
 

Estro Felino

Believer in free will
Premium Member
I think religious wars are the most irrational and self-destructive thing the human mind has ever conceived in history.

Religions are by definition cultural products which do not possess the absolute truth. None of them.

The only absolute truth is that all humans are brothers and sisters ...so to fight others out of religious purposes is against humanity. Imho.

Answering your question... @EDDi ...yeah...it is paranoia.
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
The only truth is that all humans are brothers and sisters ...so to fight out of religious purposes is against humanity. Imho.
I entirely agree

But I believe there are forces that want to undermine the wellbeing of humanity

Specifically, Satanic forces, that are not at all human

And that such forces seek to divide humankind and set it against itself

I am against fighting wars of religion between humans, I believe humans of all faiths (and of none) should all co-exist in peace

But I'm very much up to challenging Satan and his plans, and fighting him and his empire spiritually

And I recognise that that struggle begins in my own heart and mind
 

Estro Felino

Believer in free will
Premium Member
Speaking of individualistic religiosity...I guess that my Religion is very, very, very introspective.

I mean ...it is a religion thar commands me and the other fellow followers to look within 24/7.

So...I do not have the time to care what others think of my religion, of Christ ...

So the idea that other religious persons do care about what others believe (or not believe) , shocks me...really.
 
Last edited:

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Is "spiritual warfare" a valid pursuit?

I mean, is there really an "enemy" who seeks to undermine the faith of believers? And keep them from God? And to inhibit the will of God and hinder his plans?

And can this enemy be confounded by the power of prayer and the strength of one's faith?

Or is it all just paranoia?

Personally, I'm not 100% sure although on balance I think it is probably a thing

Personally, I believe I may be haunted by a demon. But this isn't about me. That's a whole other story...

I was wondering what other people think :D

I feel it's a personification of evil just as a personification of god. Like the olden days, people personify negative and positive forces in order to make sense of what they experience. It's interesting that we still carry that in today's time period; but then, I think maybe we give ourselves too much credit for thinking we have "advanced." Spiritual warfare sounds like a very pessimistic view of life as if the world is inherently evil and those who are believers are exempt from such practices. "Us versus the enemy." It's not an attractive thought at all, but I do think it has more to do with believers feelings externalize more so than an actual warfare and people dying at the stake.
 

Gargovic Malkav

Well-Known Member
Is "spiritual warfare" a valid pursuit?

I mean, is there really an "enemy" who seeks to undermine the faith of believers? And keep them from God? And to inhibit the will of God and hinder his plans?

And can this enemy be confounded by the power of prayer and the strength of one's faith?

Or is it all just paranoia?

Personally, I'm not 100% sure although on balance I think it is probably a thing

Personally, I believe I may be haunted by a demon. But this isn't about me. That's a whole other story...

I was wondering what other people think :D

I'd say you should just try to focus on your inner self like Estro Felino and Windwalker mentioned and try to do what is the right thing to do. In my experience, focusing too much on the evil spirits themselves that try to discourage, confuse or anger me seems to have an adverse effect. Besides, I know they can't do me any real harm when I do my best to live like a good person. Sometimes God puts me in a difficult spot to test my integrity which helps me to see if I've made any progress. Such things cannot be noticed when things always go my way. Not sure it works the same way for you but maybe this could be helpful.
 
Last edited:

PureX

Veteran Member
I would assert that if anyone finds themselves in a state of "spiritual combat", of any sort (internally, or externally), they are in need of some professional psychological help. That kind of intellectual and emotional turmoil is not healthy, and is not normal. And the confusion required for it to occur would indicate that one needs outside help to untangle it.
 

dybmh

דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
Is "spiritual warfare" a valid pursuit?

Struggle and striving, yes. Warfare? No.
I mean, is there really an "enemy" who seeks to undermine the faith of believers? And keep them from God? And to inhibit the will of God and hinder his plans?
IMHO:

Each person has their own inner negative impulses and destructive subconscious archetypes. Conversely, each person has positive impulses and constructive subconscious archetypes. These positive and negative impulses struggle for control in everyone. The collective of those who intentionally allow their negative impulses to reign are "the enemy" of God. They seek validation for their behavior. One way to do that is to convince Believers to stray.
And can this enemy be confounded by the power of prayer and the strength of one's faith?
Yes.
Or is it all just paranoia?
It's not all paranoia. I think it's important to recognize these negative impulses in ourselves and avoid those who encourage or advocate for them.
 

MonkeyFire

Well-Known Member
Jesus replaces spiritual warfare with spiritual equanimity. Pacifism keep nothingness locked away in the air.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Is "spiritual warfare" a valid pursuit?

I mean, is there really an "enemy" who seeks to undermine the faith of believers? And keep them from God? And to inhibit the will of God and hinder his plans?

And can this enemy be confounded by the power of prayer and the strength of one's faith?

Or is it all just paranoia?

Personally, I'm not 100% sure although on balance I think it is probably a thing

Personally, I believe I may be haunted by a demon. But this isn't about me. That's a whole other story...

I was wondering what other people think :D
Becky Fischer Jesus Camp.

Its self explanatory.
 

MNoBody

Well-Known Member
so many good comments...
these psychological tropes are perplexing
the battle for some, the capitulation for others, and for the many the blank stare of those oblivious to such matters
the shadow self that is sub-conscious, yet a distinct "part" of the whole personality, which, the more it is denied, the stronger it appears to become..
to some it is typified as a serpent
96836a5334471a4692892bc4f7ae39cc.jpg
c6ca05e87854928cd59861662aa76c61.jpg
8c7f8df60a2c40c15b0e9f9f754e5614--esoteric-symbols-carl-jung.jpg
jung.shadow.gif
9366031c255925bbcd07a26c2d18853e.jpg
a few thoughts :)
 
Top