When did demons become good?

Question

I assume even before the series Angel there was the concept of the good demon or demonlike character in stories; perhaps myth as well. I suppose this could be related to the gargoyle myth, being that, as I understand it, they are supposed to be guardians. They do have a demonic appearance, but I'm not sure if that's the reason. When and where does the "good" demon idea originate in folklore, myth, fantasy stories, et al?

Answer 1

I've been told that Satan is a fallen angel, and that those who surrounded him in the lake of fire were also rebellious angels who ended up with demon names. I don't believe in any of it, but I can see it coming from there. In Paradise Lost, Milton made Satan an attractive literary figure, very charismatic and sympathetic.

It is also possible that one culture's god became another culture's demon during the religious crusades, a lot of pagan rituals, ceremonies and gods were made into something else, and I can see where ancient gods could be vilified by a missionary and made to seem bad.

Answer 2

In ancient cultures, there was an acceptance of balance in all things; Dark & Light, Life & Death etc. It was commonly understood that within each of us was the capacity to do great good and great evil and that THE WAY through life was to stay balanced.

The Christian churches were the first to attempt to completley suppress any thoughts, words or deeds that THEY defined as "bad", "evil" or "wrong" and they gave themselves the authority to punish individuals for whatever imagined evil they wanted to assign.

And that was the end of a balanced world. The place where we live is under a fantastic struggle to regain the middle ground by playing tug-o-war with "too good" folks on one side vs. "too bad" folks on the other and the world see saws over an open pit called "heaven".

If we all let go of our ends of the rope, the wolrd would relax and settle into the middle ground again where it works effortlessly.

Answer 3

Angel is much more based on the Byronic figure than anything; the dark, brooding mystery man with an awful past he's stoically trying to reconcile. (For a wonderful look at one of the originals, check out Byron's Manfred. Excellently creepy!)

I'd say it goes right back to the original; someone's already mentioned Milton. The concept of the "anti-hero" has gone through phases of popularity in literature and culture.

Answer 4

Never. A demon is a Demon. The world mixes up the good with the bad from time to time; leading to misunderstanding, chaos, and confusion. Read the Bible. It is GOD's word. You can't go wrong. In it there is a clear distinction as to what is good and what is evil. Remember that confusion is the work of the Devil. To blind humankind and keep us from finding the True way to eternal happiness in heaven.

Answer 5

Real demons are never good. They may masquerade as good but are really deceiving. Hollywood, of course, makes them into whatever type of character they want....whatever sells. Separate the fiction from the truth and you'll come up with the realization that true demons are evil and should be shunned.

Answer 6

It's from the devil himself, and is part of his PR campaign for this lost and dying world. He deceives, is subtle, and never appears as his true, evil self.

2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Answer 7

there are three i name right off 1. when George W. Bush took the oath of dffice. 2. When Pat Robertson was ordained. 3. the day Dick Cheney was "born" there are a lot more

Answer 8

Since "demons" (and devils & angels & gods & goddesses) were invented by human beings, they can "be" anything WE want them to be.