Demonic Possession

OK, Bible says Christ cast out Devils and such.

My question is was he really casting out devils or curing the crazies? It is entirely possible that without the DSM-IVtr people were unable to accurately diagnose what was occurring. Perhaps the terminology was just different, and if our current terminology were used by the people of Biblical time it would have said and the guy with dissociative identity disorder, who had within him the mental illness of a bunch of personalities, was cured as Christ cast out the multiple fragments. Or the paranoid schizophrenic was relieved of the chemical imbalances (or whatever it is that they someday find out causes it) that had afflicted him, and the voices were cast out .

😉 Possession is so fun

IMO he's securing his control by greating a fascist dictatorial society.

People who were thought to be possessed by demons and other evil spirits are considered to be suffering from such brain disorders as Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy or any number of psychiatric problems. At best, they are people with overactive imaginations under the negative influence of the occult and related media.

Yes, and also many believed they were because they were told they were....

Originally posted by Regret
OK, Bible says Christ cast out Devils and such.

My question is was he really casting out devils or curing the crazies? It is entirely possible that without the DSM-IVtr people were unable to accurately diagnose what was occurring. Perhaps the terminology was just different, and if our current terminology were used by the people of Biblical time it would have said and the guy with dissociative identity disorder, who had within him the mental illness of a bunch of personalities, was cured as Christ cast out the multiple fragments. Or the paranoid schizophrenic was relieved of the chemical imbalances (or whatever it is that they someday find out causes it) that had afflicted him, and the voices were cast out .

😉 Possession is so fun

Are you referring to when Jesus cleansed the guy who was possessed by legion ?

Originally posted by grey fox
Are you referring to when Jesus cleansed the guy who was possessed by legion ?

Yes, that is one of them. This thread is referring to all references of this type.

Originally posted by Storm
People who were thought to be possessed by demons and other evil spirits are considered to be suffering from such brain disorders as Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy or any number of psychiatric problems. At best, they are people with overactive imaginations under the negative influence of the occult and related media.

This is my thought. I am curious as to the general Bible believer's thoughts on the subject. Do they believe that these people were literally possessed, or do they believe it likely that these people were mentally ill. Also, general thoughts on the subject might interest me.

Punker69, for one, believes in demonic possessions.

According to most beliefs demons are evil spirits. If an evil spirit is a demon, does a person who behaves in an evil manner have an evil spirit? If so, are they possessed by a demon? Or are they a demon? Run for the hills, I'm a demon 👿

I think what you think upon, you'll believe and what you believe will become YOUR reality...........though not the true reality, but one you have created since we are all creators of our own destiny.

ditto.

* well, here it is...

"And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him .
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones."
Mark 5:1-5

* note the strength of the man possessed by evil spirits called "Legion"...

"For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand; ) and were choked in the sea ."
Mark 5:8-13

* "Legion" left the man and entered into the swine... so, the man was really possessed, and not suffering from an illness they do not understand...

* another thing, if some of you believe that Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, then Christ knows the distinction of a demonic possession from an illness, right?

* uhm... not unless, we disregard these passages from the Bible because they are all incorrect... 😛

there is a difference between incorrect and mythological fiction.

Legion is awesome! I've alwayse loved that name. He does not submit to the "chains of god" if I ma be so bold, which I am going to be anyway 😉

Originally posted by Regret
OK, Bible says Christ cast out Devils and such.

My question is was he really casting out devils or curing the crazies? It is entirely possible that without the DSM-IVtr people were unable to accurately diagnose what was occurring. Perhaps the terminology was just different, and if our current terminology were used by the people of Biblical time it would have said and the guy with dissociative identity disorder, who had within him the mental illness of a bunch of personalities, was cured as Christ cast out the multiple fragments. Or the paranoid schizophrenic was relieved of the chemical imbalances (or whatever it is that they someday find out causes it) that had afflicted him, and the voices were cast out .

😉 Possession is so fun

Here is proof that the man was inhabited (or better yet POSSESSED) by many demons. The demons went OUT of the man and ENTERED into the swine that were feeding nearby. The swine didn't react violently until AFTER the demons entered them. Those who were overseeing the swine as they fed witnessed what had happened. Furthmore, the clencher if you would, they found the man who had been possessed SITTING, CLOTHED, and in HIS RIGHT MIND. All of this AFTER the demons left his body. So, no the man was not suffering from mental illness, he was demon-possessed.

Luke 8:26-39
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He [Jesus] had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. 30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”
And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

possesed by the extraterrestrial reptillian 4th dimensional entities is common🙂

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Here is proof that the man was inhabited (or better yet POSSESSED) by many demons. The demons went OUT of the man and ENTERED into the swine that were feeding nearby. The swine didn't react violently until AFTER the demons entered them. Those who were overseeing the swine as they fed witnessed what had happened. Furthmore, the clencher if you would, they found the man who had been possessed SITTING, CLOTHED, and in HIS RIGHT MIND. All of this AFTER the demons left his body. So, no the man was not suffering from mental illness, he was demon-possessed.

It is possible the the cause of the dissociative identity disorder in the man was too much of some chemical. Because it is against the laws of God to completely destroy matter, and because Christ was making a point he moved the chemicals into the swine which then behaved irregularly. The verses do not change the possibility.

Originally posted by Regret
It is possible the the cause of the dissociative identity disorder in the man was too much of some chemical. Because it is against the laws of God to completely destroy matter, and because Christ was making a point he moved the chemicals into the swine which then behaved irregularly. The verses do not change the possibility.

Question my friend Regret?

Was Jesus conversing with chemicals? Let's find out.

Luke 8:26-39
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He [Jesus] had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him , and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. 30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”
And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

The word "demon or demons" occurs some SEVEN times in this passage of the holy Bible and you conclude that the man had a chemical imbalance? You are not in denial are you Regret?

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
The word "demon or demons" occurs some SEVEN times in this passage of the holy Bible and you conclude that the man had a chemical imbalance? You are not in denial are you Regret?

Not as much as you are my friend.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
...The word "demon or demons" occurs some SEVEN times in this passage of the holy Bible and you conclude that the man had a chemical imbalance? You are not in denial are you Regret?

Anyone who sees demons, must have a chemical imbalance.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Question my friend Regret?

Was Jesus conversing with chemicals? Let's find out.

The word "demon or demons" occurs some SEVEN times in this passage of the holy Bible and you conclude that the man had a chemical imbalance? You are not in denial are you Regret?

Have you ever heard the phrase "haunted by his own demons"? It is figurative. Use of the term does not necessitate the literal existence of the demons in this passage.