"spiritual warfare" is silly

[Eddi]

I no longer believe in "spiritual warfare"

I no longer believe that Satan is trying to undermine everyone with demons so as to frustrate the will of God

I now know that I personally have not been haunted by a demon although I did used to believe this

That's just silly and paranoid

What's next? - drilling holes in peoples heads to let out evil spirits????

It is irresponsible and wrong to tell a person with a severe mental illness they are under spiritual attack by "The Enemy"

If you think you are experiencing a demon you should seek psychiatric help

There is no shame in being mentally unwell just as there is no shame in being physically unwell

For me, prayer actually helped my condition. But that doesn't mean the original problem was spiritual rather than psychiatric. Maybe that was a placebo, maybe there was an actual mechanism that was at work that can be rationally explained, or maybe God answered my prayers and healed me?

Doesn't mean the original problem was demonic though

I don't know...........

But to anyone reading this who is experiencing demons: seek medical attention!

 

[The Hammer]

"My Monsters are real"

 

[Heyo]

I no longer believe in "spiritual warfare"

I no longer believe that Satan is trying to undermine everyone with demons so as to frustrate the will of God

I now know that I personally have not been haunted by a demon although I did used to believe this

That's just silly and paranoid

What's next? - drilling holes in peoples heads to let out evil spirits????

It is irresponsible and wrong to tell a person with a severe mental illness they are under spiritual attack by "The Enemy"

If you think you are experiencing a demon you should seek psychiatric help

There is no shame in being mentally unwell just as there is no shame in being physically unwell

For me, prayer actually helped my condition. But that doesn't mean the original problem was spiritual rather than psychiatric. Maybe that was a placebo, maybe there was an actual mechanism that was at work that can be rationally explained, or maybe God answered my prayers and healed me?

Doesn't mean the original problem was demonic though

I don't know...........

But to anyone reading this who is experiencing demons: seek medical attention!

Yep. I'm not bashing all religion but when there is actual harm as there is with belief in demons and exorcism, religion becomes dangerous and worthy of damnation.

 

[Soandso]

I had an ex who was going through a severe mental episode spurred on by a painful event she was going through when she was younger. Her father in law who raised her and was a very religious man was trying to cast the demons out of her. When that didn't work they took her to the ER. Turns out she had an infection that was causing her severe pain. The ER techs got her antibiotics and she healed up ok

It took her time to realise that there were no external demons, but when she did, she was able to manage her mental illness a lot more easily without having to contend with supernatural fears as well

 

[Twilight Hue]

I no longer believe in "spiritual warfare"

I no longer believe that Satan is trying to undermine everyone with demons so as to frustrate the will of God

I now know that I personally have not been haunted by a demon although I did used to believe this

That's just silly and paranoid

What's next? - drilling holes in peoples heads to let out evil spirits????

It is irresponsible and wrong to tell a person with a severe mental illness they are under spiritual attack by "The Enemy"

If you think you are experiencing a demon you should seek psychiatric help

There is no shame in being mentally unwell just as there is no shame in being physically unwell

For me, prayer actually helped my condition. But that doesn't mean the original problem was spiritual rather than psychiatric. Maybe that was a placebo, maybe there was an actual mechanism that was at work that can be rationally explained, or maybe God answered my prayers and healed me?

Doesn't mean the original problem was demonic though

I don't know...........

But to anyone reading this who is experiencing demons: seek medical attention!

I was big on that when I was a Christian.

Looking back i see just how ridiculous it is.

 

[Wildswanderer]

I no longer believe in "spiritual warfare"

I no longer believe that Satan is trying to undermine everyone with demons so as to frustrate the will of God

I now know that I personally have not been haunted by a demon although I did used to believe this

That's just silly and paranoid

What's next? - drilling holes in peoples heads to let out evil spirits????

It is irresponsible and wrong to tell a person with a severe mental illness they are under spiritual attack by "The Enemy"

If you think you are experiencing a demon you should seek psychiatric help

There is no shame in being mentally unwell just as there is no shame in being physically unwell

For me, prayer actually helped my condition. But that doesn't mean the original problem was spiritual rather than psychiatric. Maybe that was a placebo, maybe there was an actual mechanism that was at work that can be rationally explained, or maybe God answered my prayers and healed me?

Doesn't mean the original problem was demonic though

I don't know...........

But to anyone reading this who is experiencing demons: seek medical attention!

No, not everyone who has experienced spiritual warfare is mentally ill. That's a very naive point of view.
You no longer believe the Bible?

 

[Eddi]

You no longer believe the Bible?

I believe that when Jesus "cast out spirits" what he was actually doing was curing mental illness

He cured physical illnesses too, e.g. people who couldn't walk and the blind

 

[Wildswanderer]

I believe that when Jesus "cast out spirits" what he was actually doing was curing mental illness

He cured physical illnesses too, e.g. people who couldn't walk and the blind

He also spoke to spirits who spoke back. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Demons are real, according to scripture.

 

[Eddi]

He also spoke to spirits who spoke back

People can behave as though they are possessed by spirits without actually being possessed

I find other explanations more convincing

Demons are real, according to scripture.

Maybe

But I doubt they cause mental illness

And personally speaking, I doubt that I have been subjected to one for 18 years

Again, I find other explanations more convincing

 

[Heyo]

Demons are real, according to scripture.

A good reason to take scripture not serious.

 

[YoursTrue]

I believe that when Jesus "cast out spirits" what he was actually doing was curing mental illness

He cured physical illnesses too, e.g. people who couldn't walk and the blind

I will tell you that when a person is not taught what is wrong in God's eyes he can be host for the demons.

 

[sun rise]

I basically agree with @Eddi. The vast majority of the time the best approach is psychological/psychiatric.

My understanding is that there are mischievous astral entities that seek to experience vicariously things like being drunk which they can no longer do not having a physical body and are thus attracted to those who drink etc. But the satan/demon bit is not something I accept.

 

[Father Heathen]

Does posting demonic sigils count as a form of spiritual warfare?

 

[YoursTrue]

Does posting demonic sigils count as a form of spiritual warfare?

good point. Why would someone post them if they didn't think there was any merit to them.

 

[shunyadragon]

No onw will likely own up to believe in 'spiritual warfare,' but nonetheless it is waged relentlessly.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Yep. I'm not bashing all religion but when there is actual harm as there is with belief in demons and exorcism, religion becomes dangerous and worthy of damnation.

It's always a strange sight watching grown people in a modern age running around touting how demons affect their lives.

 

[Heyo]

It's always a strange sight watching grown people in a modern age running around touting how demons affect their lives.

And how Zeus throws lightning bolts, witches curse their crop and the earth is flat ... wait - most don't do that. They have learned that that is superstition, metaphor or plain ignorance of our ancestors.
And the belief in demons is also rare today (except West Central Africa, the Vatican and the US). We have the equivalent of the lightning rod for "demons", it's called psychology. Time to bury the demon superstition also.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

He also spoke to spirits who spoke back. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Demons are real, according to scripture.

I will tell you that when a person is not taught what is wrong in God's eyes he can be host for the demons.

In light of what author of thread has generously and courageously chosen to shared on forum about their condition, may I ask; when you post replies like these, do you consider their impact on this individual’s emotional health and well-being? Does it matter to you and if not, why?

Humbly
Hermit

 

[vulcanlogician]

good point. Why would someone post them if they didn't think there was any merit to them.

There could be plenty of reasons. I could post one right now just to prove the point that it could be done for arbitrary purposes.

 

[Father Heathen]

It's always a strange sight watching grown people in a modern age running around touting how demons affect their lives.

Without these people, there's be nobody to elect the GOP into power.