Do you believe it's possible to be possessed by the devil, or evil spirits? As a Christian, I do believe that it's possible to be "possessed" by the Holy Spirit, so I also sort of believe you could be possessed by demons, if your very open to that sort of thing. I'm not really sure though...What to do you guys think? I'd like to hear views from people from different religons on what they believe about it.

True possession is extremely rare. 99% of the time it is a form of insanity.

Maybe, yes. So you do believe that that 1% is true possession?

I personally believe that "demonic possession" is absolutely untrue. While I feel that people can be influenced by an unseen evil force, I do not feel that they can become possessed. Even the term that you use..."possessed with the holy spirit"....I feel that is also impossible. I've heard of "being filled" with the holy spirit, which I feel is nothing more then people feeling at peace, not an actual "possession". I wouldn't say that people who think they are possessed are insane per say, but more along the lines of.....using that as an excuse to do evil.

Yes.

As an occultist, I don't accept "belief" as an important mode of thought. I accept it as a strong possibility, based on my studies and personal experiences. Spirit is spirit no matter what religion you profess; God knows you. Neither xianity, nor any other, owns god. Back to demons. If you truly believe in them, they can "possess" you. If you don't, then it is rather unlikely.

yes, you can be possessed, in many ways. possession by the devil himself is a rare occurrence but does happen with cases being documated as such. many cases are simply strong influences by demonic powers and possession by spirits of lesser strength. insanity and possession look a lot alike and there are some people in mental hospitals who could benefit from an exorcism instead of mind bending drugs. this post will probably open a flood gate of rebuttal but the fact remains, i have witnessed first hand the effects of demonic powers over other human beings and have fought battles myself. no one will ever convince me that these powers do not exist.

randomhit10

documented by who?? the catholics.

I've noticted that they're are people who believe in demons and possession, but then seem to find Christians and people from other religons "blind" as some people have put it....But if they don't believe in any sort of God, how can they believe in demons?

I think if people accept first that the bible and other holy writ, was "inspired", if you Fleur, believe one is able to be possessed by the holy spirit, and given there's still a world of mystery about the brain and it's functions or abilities, then yes. I'd say all that pre-supposition would have to imply one can be possessed by a demonic spirit, if it's first believed one can be possessed by something holy. However , I would also subscribe to GM's statement that it could all very easily be relegated to psychosis of a sort.

to be honest... it has always seemed that most of the possessions are either due to some over religious mother thinking their physicaly or mentaly handicapped child is possessed... and not bothering to understand what's really going on... or someone who's got some phorm of mental diseas like bipolar, skitziod, or even advanced syphilis (since it makes your brain into swiss cheese) and again, no one bothering to try and figure out what's really going on.

The other possessions are just crazy parents who think their kid's normal pubecent growing pains are possessions and just go completely out of wack with it.

No kidding! I have a friend I've known since we were both 6 years of age. Just recently the woman across the hall from her condo, institutionalized her 10 year old daughter because she claimed she was demoniacally possessed. Turns out, the psychiatrists diagnosed bi-polar disorder! I can't imagine a child of 10 coming home to mommy, after that experience, but I guess it shouldn't be a great surprise. On the door of that condo is a cross. It's vertical beam reaches from the length of the door, it's cross beam spans the width. The security peep hole is carved out in the middle of the beams and it's highlighted by a carved cross that surrounds it. And embossed on the giant cross part are the words: Jesus saves.

The child is prohibited from access to TV (they don't even own one), computers and radios, because their mother believes those are vehicles by which satan can gain access past the "holy shields that protect their sanctuary". No, I'm not kidding! I met this woman in the lobby, on the way to visit my friend and that allowed me to ask her about the cross and what my friend had related about the restrictions on electronics in their home. But what I didn't understand, until that encounter, is how it was I would hear religious music playing on the other side of that door. Turns out, the woman has a CD player and every recording she owns is only christian music. But that is blessed, and sold, by the pastor of her church after it's dowsed with a liberal sprinkling of holy water upon the jewel cases. You know, I've never met a religious person that sent a chill down my spine, until that day. I almost think she's the role model for that mom character in that old Sissy Spacek classic "Carrie".

mark 5 1-13 talks about Legion which meaning many ...a man possessed by many devils, who was set free from them....so IMO yes one can be possessed....one must first recognize it is possible too believe it ....not so sure that one has too believe or know the bible to acknowledge the possissablity of possession....

I don't believe in possession, I'm not even sure that I believe in demons per se. I am a Christian, and in my sect we do practice being "filled" by the Holy Spirit and the light of God. However, possession would impy we lose control of our minds and bodies which isn't the case at all. You might be moved to speak (and are encouraged to do so) after receiving a message while dwelling in the light, but possession? No.

I think you can be possessed by the Holy Spirit, but I think it as rare, if not more, then being possessed by demons or something else.

100% no. If it could happen, it would be an extremely common occurence, that was well documented with cases that contained impossibilites on the part of the possessed.

[Why would a spirit, which hates humanity, and has the power to make your life a living hell, leave you alone?]

me. i'm not catholic.

randomhit10

not all insanity comes from possession by demons...some are illnesses plain and simple. not all craziness in the world is a result of the devil owning a person's soul. but some are. some people used a variety of "reasons" to explain why things happen in their lives without doing the homework to understand where the source of their problems are. i have had a serious medical problem that i did not think or believe was a possession. i have a friend who has a child who cuts himself constantly and dreams about a place where a hideous entity tries to get him to come and live forever by cutting his wrist. the doctors say that there is nothing wrong with the child. would you try every possible avenue to save the child if he were yours? they have and the best result has been a deliverance exorcism. did they do anything wrong by trying this to save their child? i have not always been a believer but in the last 10 years i have seen so many things happen that there is no other explanation that i can find other than God is real, Jesus is real. all i am saying is that you have the right to believe anything you want to. just keep an open mind. i will never beat you over the head for what you believe and i try to keep an open mind so i can understand what you see in what you believe. anyway. i'm not sure why the pastor in your post blessed a cd and doused it with holy water. that is nonsense and an impotent act of ignorance. that makes the truth harder to believe for others. as for the restrictions of electronics, that may be a good idea because the flashing of tv's can trigger episodes for people who are bi-polar and also people who are prone to seizures ( these two are not demon possession).

i hope you read this with an open mind.
thanks

randomhit10