I guess this says it all?

Question

even when presenting someone with facts and links to those facts ... it still merits a thumbs down ?
why is it that believing in demons seems a better idea than having science tell us that sleep paralysis and hypnagogic imagery are the causes of night terrors ?
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvSRpsRr7UfS2xo0zSc8wKsgBgx.?qid=20061111144732AAPASfw
please scroll to my answer

cool link thank you Chris

I am way past caring about thumbs up or down
i am just sitting in disbelief at how people can swear black is white

Dooder thank you for an honest answer
and no I didnt say once that i dont believe in demons ( although if truth be known i dont anyway )
but that wasnt the point and you understand that xx

Jeffo with the utmost respect the the person who asked the question
what child doesnt know about the word nightmare

silvertears .. you assume that because i present science , I do not believe in God
that is not true

Answer 1

I have to agree that you answered that question very well and I gave you a thumbs up by the way since i was there. I do believe in demons and have encountered them in my life, BUT!!! people blame "demons" for everything. The sleep disorder you mentioned is very real indeed because I have experienced it before and know of others who have also. The studies have been done, and the evidence documented that proves this. This does not disprove that demons exist, but it does prove that there are DEFINATELY other eplanations for things in this life beside demons. Great question and great answer you gave by the way! Peace.

Answer 2

I agree with you, and I do not think your answer deserved a thumbs down. That does not necessarily imply that it was the best answer, either. I must point out that the poster knew that the demon's name was "nightmare", and then later discovered ancient documents of demons who went by the name "nightmare".

Your facts are good, but they do not explain this claim. So, I must point out that your facts are not actually relevant to the situation. By discounting her experience with facts irrelevant to her experience, you downplayed the importance of her traumatic event and belittled her intelligence.

In order for your facts to be relevent, you must almost begin with the assumption that she is lying or is having false memories when she "knew that the demon's name was nightmare".

Since you did not present those facts, you only explained a physical phenomenon which was only part of the question.

I don't know if her story is true or not. I am highly skeptical, but scientific facts are not reason enough to discount it.

Answer 3

I don't believe in demons either,but I have much experience with the phenomenon.I recognize it in all of it's manifestations.I understand the true nature of "demons",and I was speaking in his language.I still reminded him that it was his own creation,this served as a bridge to his own rationality.It was spiritual emergency first-aid.Why are you bitter?You obviously have no first-hand experience in these matters,and did not know how to react.Don't become the Adversary.Let the Light surround you.SM

Answer 4

It wouldn't seem to make sense would it?
When God as a Person comes and convinces a person that He is real, in a very personal way, that wouldn't make any difference to another [like in those movies, where someone knows personal information that no else could unless knows them, and tries to convince them using that knowledge]. Then when someone becomes convinced of the fact of there being a God, then they work out how this conflicts with all their others deep seated beliefs.
I have learned that the spiritual things affect the physical. So, a demon affects your sleep, which is the paralysis and such. I'm betting you are thinking that that only makes it logical to me, and I understand that stance.
You are convinced science explains life. I am convinced God explains life. One of us is blind. Mine has proven true in circumstances that simply defy science, thus my beliefs are deepened and reaffirmed. [How to explain my mother feeling absolutely no pain with a procedure to take a piece of bone out of her hip, with a needle like instrument, and there was no anasthesia {not sure of spelling} ? This is one of many. ]
I do not expect to change your mind, simply give an explanation. Only those that have an opening, give God a chance to show or not His reality, can then make an informed decision. If they truly listen, instead of trying to convince themselves it isn't true.

Answer 5

..Errrr BOOO!

(sorry couldn't resist)

So you accept the "scientific" explanation of demons, but still believe in God? Your faith in science or theological reasoning does not seem too rigorous. If you believe in one, it follows that you should believe in the other. Many people seem to adopt a "pick and mix" personalised theology, believe what suits them, disregard what does not fit their world view.

Believe or not. Try to do both is hypocrisy.

Just to clarify - I'm all for hypocrisy and wrath, jealousy, pride......

(and I give you a thumbs up for a good question)

Answer 6

The need to hang on to the mythology is strong.

Any idea presented that does not support a particular thought system is seen as an attack on the thought system.

It must therefore be ridiculed, or ignored.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 7

If you ask believers to deny the truth of Demons, they themselves are denying Bible teachings, and their Pastors and Preachers. Such persons cannot under any circumstances deny the mental conditioning of their belief system. This is of course why Religion denies Science!

Answer 8

Well to be fair science has been wrong a lot of times including about a year or so ago when one of the worlds leading scientists admitted to lying about his research in cloning. Remember these are just people also and often are tempted to cheat and deceive to further their career.

Answer 9

Pangel,

You answered those questions so well, so smoothly. Stick to the facts and use your very good reasoning ability. However, you say things better than me, you have that feeling touch. I feel, but come across too certain. It is just me.

Take care.

Answer 10

i agree with you.

i believe in Demons, and evil spirits and negative energy.
I am known in my community as someone that can stop these things from causing harm to people in their everyday lives. and someone that has been called to houses of many faiths, for blessings and protective prayers (spells).

the only human possessions that i have seen are done with intent by a medium. and this is simply a tactic used by many "Exorcists" to trap and contain a negative entity.

i do encourage people to research all medical and scientific avenues before making any decisions. but many times the ritual of cleansing and protection is done more for the people living there than to dispell any negative energy. people that truly believe that they have a spiritual problem need to see something done.
i still put just as much intent and energy into the ritual as i do when there is something negative in the house. but i realise that the ritual is more for their peace of mind than anything else.