From a psychological standpoint, do you believe that demonic possessions/interactions are a mental phenomena?

Question

Do you think that personal interactions with demons are some type of mental, psychiatric, and/or emotional disorder? If your answer is "Yes", please explain. Thanks!

Does anyone have anything else on this subject? Pro or Con, your answers are appreciated. Happy New Year!

Thanks for all the great answers. You all have covered allot of ground on this. Allot of good information about this phenomena, pro and con. Thanks again. I am going to let you all decide which answer is best.

Answer 1

No! I believe it is a Biblical related fact.

Answer 2

I believe that demonic influence or oppression is very real; and in rare cases, demonic possession. It usually begins in the mind. I've heard it said that the mind is a playground for the devil. There are things people can do to open the door to demonic activity, basically inviting them in. Ungodly spiritual acts may invite it, such as seances, using an ouija board, tarot cards, witchcraft, etc. The severity of demonic attack depends on the strength of the demons and how many attack the person. A person may have abnormal mood swings, which could be a form of demonic influence, or they could have suicidal thoughts which could be demonic oppression, or they could schizophrenic which could be demonic possession. Demonic activity is not necessarily the answer to these in every case, but may be an answer to some of them as well as other forms of mental or even physical maladies. If it is demonic no medication will cure the person; only a deliverance will expel the demon(s). That's why (I believe) so many psyciatric patients are never cured. Most people believe demons are mythological folklore because it can't be proven, but I believe it's a valid explanation for some cases. There are cases where people have tried traditional treatments to no avail, but then were cured/healed after a deliverance.

Answer 3

What they are, and this is no less comforting, is people. PEOPLE grow up, AND, the fact is , they still are entertaining fantasies of being all-powerful. The PROOF that this is because they are rampantly riddled with insecurities is that their fantasy is to SUBDUE THE "OTHERS" by ? : fear ! Now fear is real emotional crap to be injesting, and no-one has to eat it....actually. What I do -- I was born sensitive, and psychic 'crap-heads' have always been atracted to that susceptibiliy of mine... so... what I do is feel every emotion but fear in response -- be imaginative, and go to aALL SORTS of emotionsb but stay off the fear button.... THEN, it gets good ! the person becomes frustrated in their- own-stupid-failed-attempt (Hey, they are frustrated in the first place; that's why theiy're so unfathomably angry-- but you can get GOOD at this, any way, and there ARE ways 4U!!) OKAY now it's getting good because the person gets so frustrated and uncontrolable that they take a step out of the closet : they DO something. UH, do you think what that tupe has in mind is,uh, LEGAL? Well, now you get to take an action of your own! Now, he or she might just do little, crappy, weird things at first, but they will ad up..... it's a trap, and I gaueantee you that these poeple' stupidiy DOES equal ther anger, and they are accomodating every time, and step into the trap. BUT, UNTILL you do get your prize, try to keep your emotional laughter at how it's all working now low, not too audible : the ppinch, and the "punch-line" come in yet a while. Don't warn the person, or mock them about THAT particular stupidity. WAIT, and watch as if an onlooker who doesn't have much invested... tho I uderstand, and you HAVE been thru HELL'S own ringing-machine, and dripped your prescious life fluids for NOONETHATMATTERS. YEs, I know. BROTHER or SISTER : I live and laugh each day. You can DO this. They either bust out into naked opennes, and fall into a pile of it, OR the last look you see, as they leave, is one of the terror you thought yuo had, all to yourself...Thank the Gods, then, for they are surely in your corner.

Answer 4

Being an atheist, this seems to be the only possible explanation.

Many psychological disorders cause extremely deviant behavior and thoughts, that's just the way they are. Some diseases (schizophrenia) may actually convince the subject that they are subject to some mystic force. Other claims of "possession" may simply be defense mechanisms. A person is schocked by what they do or feel they must do, and chalk it all up to some sort of demon.

Answer 5

I believe any mental disorder is all in the head, the "crazy voices" included, they are in the head, not the heart, because I believe the heart fights the "evil" impulses that probably originate in the frontal lobes, (call them "demons" or whatever you like). Thus everyone who kills and pleads "insanity" is no less guilty than the guy who does it cold at random and doesn't plead insanity, if they have a depraved indifference to life, it's not because of "voices", it's not because of "demons" or "insanity", it is plain insensitivity to the value of life, the inconsiderate of a fellow living being, they did KNOW better, they just didn't care or they would have overcome that temptation to kill. Everyone is responsible for their own behaviour, encouraging a belief that a person can blame their awful actions on something/someone else, and not be accountabl;e for following their self serving impulses is just plain stupid.

Answer 6

No, I do not believe they are a phenomena. I believe "possessions/interactions" are courted...invited if you will. I believe that a claim of possession/interaction is like getting drunk...it "allows" the "victim" to behave in peculiar/particular ways, commit crimes, be vicious, goofy, whatever, without taking personal responsibility. In my belief system in order for a person to truly be possessed that person must invite the entity, and a person who deliberately interacts with demons is inviting harm and possession.

I have a Christian protestant minister friend who jokes and says that the devil must cry alot for all the stuff he gets blamed for that he didn't actually do!

Answer 7

Yes. Demon-like experiences can be linked with psychological mis-development/stresses/damage, and can be a result of either an uncontrollable imagination or it can develop into mania, dual-personality syndrome or even waking-hallucinations leading to schizophrenia at worst.. Depression is an opening emotional disorder which can trigger an individual to fall upon the path mentioned above. The abuse of mind-altering substances/alcohol may quicken these symptoms.

Hope I helped!

Answer 8

To the extent that the demon makes you lose control of your personal freedom of will, yes. As far as, say, a person believing that demons are present somewhere, and is therefore scared, no. Where schizophrenic like psychosis was present in centuries past, demonic possession was a common explanation. Now, not so much, naturally.

Answer 9

I would say yes and I say that because there has only been one person to explain just about every question I have asked spiritually and that is Sylvia Browne- If you read her latest book "an uncommon perspective of the life of jesus" I do not think that is the exact title, but close enough. Read that book and you will understand so much more.

Do not get me wrong, I still believe in a lot of the bible, but, it was too "old-school" for me to believe it word for word, and her book makes sence to me.

Dont knock it before you try it.

Answer 10

Hard to say but I believe they are real yet not real. I simply believe the mind is a powerful being that can lead us to believe and react any way we want to. So.....I think ppl who are "possessed" do not have a disorder but have let something neagative/imaginative/etc take over there awareness.

Answer 11

No.

I have seen one before. They are real.

That having been said, most of the people who claim to have seen/heard them are probably mental.

But make no mistake, demons do exist.