On one of my recent posts, a person commented:
I’ve heard the danger of reading cult literature because “words have power” or something, and that to actually fight spiritual demons would open one to a world of things most people really couldn’t cope with. How can one be sure what is fiction, “truth/partial-truth in story form”, and various levels of reality? (Not a ten-words-or-less type question, is it?)
Well, I, too, find many thoughts going through my mind, but most of them have to do with how illogical some of the people who are engaged in “demon-fighting” are. But, I do need to make a couple of comments first.
It is important to note that demons do exist and are active. Saint Paul’s comment that we fight not against flesh and blood but against heavenly powers was not meant to be a nice statement of how we should not judge others. It was meant to be a statement of fact about the here and now influence of spiritual powers. I have participated in exorcisms and I can guarantee you that there is such a thing as the demonic.
But, it is also important to note that greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Frankly, it is tempting to explain some of the more gruesome manifestations of sin as being either demon possession or a severe mental health problem. And, undoubtedly some of them are. However, the more we tend to excuse human behavior as either possession or a damaged psyche, the more we will minimize human responsibility for our actions. Because we are “fallen and damaged” human beings, that means that everything we do comes from a damaged psyche. Thus, it is true to say that we are all damaged and could use some counseling, and that all our choices flow partially out of the damage in our selves. And, yet–with the exception of extreme cases–both secular and sacred authorities insist that we bear personal responsibility for our choices despite our damaged selves. In the same way, Satan “prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Because we are involved in spiritual warfare it means that all the choices we make are tinged (or soaked) with the temptations of the spiritual powers of the air. Nevertheless, we bear personal responsibility for our choices, regardless of the temptations of the heavenly powers.
In the same way, there are actions that if we participate in them will clearly open us up to the evil powers in the heavenly realms. Active involvement in activities such as trying to speak to the dead or of consulting mediums, spiritualists, or witches will clearly open us up to oppression or even possession by evil. Lest you think I am exaggerating, I would suggest that you read C.S. Lewis, a Christian author who is not known for extremists views. In his book, That Hideous Strength, he clearly portrays at least two men who are demon possessed and deluded. Most of us will read his children’s books on Narnia while failing to read his more adult oriented books that portray the reality of Satan. In the same way, we will watch the movie trilogy of the Lord of the Rings, while failing to notice that Gollum’s story is one of demon possession with a descent into madness.
Having said that, sadly many of our current conservative Christians go significantly too far in the area of the demonic, and begin to believe illogical and contradictory ideas that have more in common with Hollywood than they do with Christian reality.
===MORE TO COME===
My Sunday School Teacher (c. 1979, United Methodist) once caught me reading something she thought was not appropriate for a Christian teenager. What she said has proven true often enough: “Spiritual junk food will give you spiritual zits.”
No sense of demon-possession, etc, but rather just a realisation that “you are what you eat” and a healthy diet would be a wise choice to balance out the junk!
I would agree with your Sunday School teacher. Reading Harlequin romances would probably lead one to a state of complete unreality regarding human relationships.
In the same way, even shows such as South Park have made fun of World of Warcraft players who become so involved in the game that they end up having “no life.” One of the classic lines in that particular episode was something like, “how can you kill someone who has no life.”