[Suebh]

Ok for what its worth I thought I would throw in a couple of my thoughts here. Spiritualism is a religion, one of which I am very aware of and one that I understand the teachings come from spirit, and within those teachings there are no devils and demons. I would suggest that if these things did indeed exist, would not our loving spirit family caution and warn us somehow? Another religion that I am aware of and have understanding is Catholisism, whos teachings are written by man. The point I want to get to here really is that the teachings of man or the catholic church seems to change with whoever is in charge. A point in question was the declaration by the present Pope that Limbo not longer exists! Well now, how can that be, it has been a solid basis for teachings within this religion for centuries and with a swoop of a pen, in a mans hand, that of the Pope, it does not exist! And now the very same man is reminding us all that indeed hell does exist. Interesting huh? Pope says limbo does not exist anymore, this remember is a scary place where unborn and stillborn children, those unfortunates who take their own lives and ppl who have sinned but not drastically hang around in after death for, well who knows how long. So suddenly catholic church are thinking uh oh, we need to maintain our power over people so lets take the hell thing and go for it 'hell for leather' (pardon the pun)
I respect other peoples belief but I do worry when peoples belief system is based solely fear driven beliefs. Life is and can be very simple. Some of the words and teachings from the bible can be used without anyone being a 'bible basher', there is a lot of wisdom in that book but also things which are obviously man made.

Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself, very simple teaching, be with others as you would want them to be with you, do for others what you would want them do for you. Would you like your children to be scared half to death by a God that is spouting hell is for you if you so much as think a bad thought. Well that is a big no no for me. I, and my children have a solid belief in God, and also a solid belief that life is eternal( a teaching of both catholic and spiritulist followers). My children are kind,mannerly and respectful but they are children, do childish things, get into the trouble children get into, create mischief....that is their right. I am not saying to anyone that your belief is wrong, I am saying in my overall understanding, freewill must prevail. Take responsilbility for yourself, be who you are whatever that may be and a happier and more content life will be found.

Love and light

Sue

[blueheron]

Interesting topic...Well I was raised a Catholic and put the fear of the devvil and other such demons in my little head early in life. Then about when I hit my mid 30's I searched for something more from religion and mistakinging studied with another religious group that was even more fenatical about evilness that abounds all arounds us. That group was a cult if you want to know the truth. I won't name the religion out of respect for people int he forum that may be member of this religious group. At any rate. They did a real number on me in brainwashing me and trashing my almost once former Catholic faith. The methodology was to use scare tactics by takinging about how slick Satan and other demons were in tricking me, etc. in keeping me in my evil ways. I was so convinced I went out and bought the book "Demons in the World Today" by Merril Unger. If you think there aren't demons in the world...you will believe there are by the time you get done reading her book...that is if you have a weak mind when you read her book, which I did at the time, I'm sorry to say. My strong faith in God is once again renewed and when those cult-like people come knocking on my door I kindly turn their literature away. So it's all a matter of FRAME OF MIND as to wheather or not Demons exists in one's world. They don't exists in my world, but I looked for them to exists at one time.

Blue Heron

[Laurelai]

:twisted: Well, I was raised outside of any sort of religion. Nobody ever spoke of God, good & evil, or supernatural anything in our family. I was raised to believe in science, rational thinking and that 2+2 must always =4 no matter what. That said, I was having some anxiety issues and I decided to learn to meditate. I had a tape that had me envisioning my different chakra centers and going deeper and deeper...that sort of thing. I found I could relax along with the tape quite easily. I did this for several days. Nothing much happened during the meditations but at night, right before going to sleep, as soon as I would close my eyes and then focus them to where the "third eye" is said to be located, I would notice shadowy figures moving about. I'd never seen anything like this before. I tried to focus in on them and I seemed to be looking up a dark tunnel, and I saw three creatures look down the tunnel at me...they appeared to be humanoid but each had 2 little horns on its head! This went on for several nights. Each time I would see the creatures I would pray for God's protection and they'd go away. If I can see into their dimension, I know they can see into mine. I've accepted the fact that I'm psychic. I've had too many premonitions to say differently. However, this fact doesn't mean I've rejected the Bible. I struggle and disagree with parts of it, of course, but when we deal with spirits we never know exactly what we're dealing with. When we meditate I believe we go into another dimension, their dimension, and we must remember that we have NO authority when in their territory. I now pray for relaxation and think about God's goodness and I get the same benefit as with meditation. Anyone have a similar experience?

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Laurelai

I would close my eyes and then focus them to where the "third eye" is said to be located, I would notice shadowy figures moving about. I'd never seen anything like this before. I tried to focus in on them and I seemed to be looking up a dark tunnel, and I saw three creatures look down the tunnel at me...they appeared to be humanoid but each had 2 little horns on its head! This went on for several nights. Each time I would see the creatures I would pray for God's protection and they'd go away. If I can see into their dimension, I know they can see into mine.

I am sorry, ... but I feel I need to counteract such idea's by saying I have authority over any dealing with spirit of any kind, ... in body, in spirit links, in trance, or oob, ... I have the choice to deal or not deal, with anyone I choose in any circumstance. I certainly don't think people pass to spirit and suddenly become spiritual in the sense of the word in which it is generally accepted, ... that in my opinion takes evolution, be it here or there, ... but I do think people who see demons and wot not are coloring their visions with their feelings and ingrained idea's. IMO.

I don't indulge in protection rituals or prayers either, ... I feel it is simply a matter of having a mind set about what you will and will not accept, and in fact, feel such practices are borne of the suggestion that there is indeed something to fear, which to my mind, in itself, is stepping in to communication with the apprehension of a negative approach/possibility.

I may be wrong, but perhaps the least protected are actually the most protected, simply because they won't/don't allow for such notions in their reality.

Nat xxx

[Laurelai]

I'm sorry my vision was so upsetting to you, but it was what it was. The reason I asked for protection was that I felt I wanted these things as far away from me as possible. Everything with me comes in strong feelings first, the visions are secondary. When I feel I need to get out of a place NOW I don't question the feeling, I follow it post haste. We are all free to believe according to our own experiences and this was mine.

[Nat]

I am not personally upset, ... but I do feel sorry for you believing you had such an experience however it can be defined. I hope my words in some way help others not to go through the same thing.

Nat xxx

[Wolfie]

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.


The idea of demons to me, seems like a creation of mankinds imagination but there nay just be a shred of truth in the idea. Like we all do stereotype certain people; we are putting a whole plethora of characteristics into one being; like the devil- like many of you say we are all capable of good and bad, as where angels symbolise all that is good; the devils and demons are a symbol of all that is bad in humanity.

And even more controvercial here, this is my theory; that angels and demons could come from a single truth. However you percieve them, it decides what they are. In life and the life after, there are beings that are there to help us; making us confront our guilt and what we would see as punishment by demons is them cleansing our soul for the next life; or angels guiding and protecting us into the next stage- either way; we punish ourselves.

As for another kind of demon, whic is not a demon but still pant changinly scary; is a lost soul. one that would appear very negative, full of anger and hate of what has happend to them that cannot let go; these candeform into unglodly shapes. That last one is just my theory, I have yet to encounter such things; but came close to something like it before.

[oktor]

closed mindedness is such a big hurdle for people to overcome. think there is a whole nation of people who believe demons are as real as you and i, that may be china kinda big place full of odd people or Japan, not sure if either of those places is real though, I've never been to either of them.
right now the governments are ignoring the threat of global warming. closing your eyes and saying it's not real it's not real won't help stop it.
there are several tribal places world wide referred to in there native languages as "devils gate" though I've not seen one walk up to me in the flesh and tap me on the shoulder I've also not had a spirit guild walk up to me and tap me on the shoulder. I've been to a devils gate location in south Australia, crazy things happened but still no demons. i may have been lucky. i had a dream once that a demons scratched me and took a bite out of my ear, I'm still missing part of that ear and the three scratches healed fairly well. that was when i was 12.
fairly sure if they exist it's in there own reality/dimension not ours and trying to bring about the end of the world wouldn't be on there agenda, afterall a creature like that would need our fear to feed on, can't do that if we are all dead!
protecting yourself from them may be a simple matter, of positive upward thinking, i know ignoring them hasn't worked out well for several famous people, what ever happened to Bruce lee?

[Curious]

I ask God to protect me from evil whatever form it may take but I certainly don't want to be paranoid about Satan and demons.

I was appalled when I heard several evangelical Christians say to me that Satan was attacking me because I had a low mood, I felt anxious and I had emotional problems - I feel that's very unpleasant and I feel they were taking advantage of my emotional state at the time. They think what they believe is right because they've been blinded by doctrine.

Am I being oversensitive but I think there is a horrible side to evangelical Christianity which is (1) their belief that 99% of people are condemned to hell because they don't believe and (2) that Satan and demons are there to scare you and to give you practical and emotional problems?

I go to a Methodist church which doesn't teach about hell or Devil and demons. I like this church because it teaches about a God of love and compassion.

[innerlight]

i have been on a path of enlightenment when i here a song of love my body is covered with goosebumps this happens everday its evolution its love its the only path my grandmother has seen jesus in the sky and saint peter and i dnt say that these are the only path for good and humility and light more important than religon is your faith my mother was visited by a bad spirit with the face of a pig and had a red dress on.to say that u believe in spirits that are only good is iggnorant in my opinon why would we have murders rapists and thieves and never ending war?is this the way of love? if ther is good and evil in this world than it a also exists outside of us. ther are bad things and bad spirits some do bad out of fear and some do bad because its what they like those are the worst.but ther is an evil entity and ther is a good ther is always the 2.it exists inside of us a wise indian shaman ounce said we all carry 2 wolves inside of us one black and one white the one hat wins is the one we feed the most.but yes ther are bad spirits in this world its not all flowers and candy we have to work for or flowers and candy