I am not a doctor. I don’t have a PhD. I haven’t read through hundreds of case studies. I do have first hand experience. We are going to work towards some understanding.
Man has a Shadow or Subconscious. This is like The Shadow as taught by Dr Carl Jung. In someone’s shadow or subconscious, there may have been “Things.” Spirits. Spirits effect motivations. A regular Joe, he is going about his business in life. He is grinding through corporate America. He was totally unaware of what was in his shadow or subconscious. Given he had the motivation to lie or had some weird fetishes, that may have been “Some Spirit” or thing in his subconscious. He has freedom of choice.
Dr Carl Jung and Shadow Integration is a “Mysticism.” It is similar to Kundalini Yoga. Someone was unaware of what was in their subconscious. They worked to be become aware through mediation and reflection. They worked to integrate. Prior to, they were a possessed person. They became a “More Possessed Person” perceiving through something. In Kundalini Yoga, a particular spirit or demon was being cultivated. In Shadow Integration, any number of spirits may have been in someone’s shadow. Shadow Integration brings understanding to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Given someone was Schizophrenic…depending on the person…and the situation…I haven’t read through hundreds of case studies…they may have started to become “Aware.” Most people were unaware. They were becoming aware. In awareness, someone may have been attacked. Demonic Oppression would be where someone has intrusive thoughts they may not have been able to shake easily. Given someone started thinking about wedgies or some other fetish, and couldn’t stop…a man may have been drawing them, and thinking about them all day, he had issues, that my be Demonic Oppression. How can someone tell? Given someone is reacting to religious symbolism or prayer or religious music, that reaction would be a demon. Demons tend to jump at the presence of God.
This a big topic with a learning curve. In Christianity, a water baptism done correctly would be an exorcism. Someone was choosing The Lord Jesus Christ, and a new life in Christ. Hopefully, there were rules and guidance in society to funnel someone towards righteousness. Given there wasn’t, someone may have backslid, and then he has “Things Not God,” in his subconscious. They came back.
What are some signs…that someone was possessed and of a demon?
Demons are tied to specific sins. There are themes.
Man is made in the image of God, man is God’s Glory.
Was something working to mock man made in the image of God, God’s Glory? Someone contorting themselves in de-humanizing ways in front of an idol, that was mocking man made in the image of God, God’s Glory.
Demons are not mortal like man is. Given someone was perceiving through a demon, there may have been an understanding of “Past Lives.” Reincarnation. Jesus cast demons into pigs. Demons can possess animals.
In particular Mysticism - A Man’s Body was a Vessel. A vessel for what?
In Christianity - A man’s body is a temple. Jesus lives in a man through his Holy Spirit.
In the Netflix TV show, “Altered Carbon,” a man’s body was a sleeve, and consciousness could be worn by different bodies like sleeves of a shirt. “Altered Carbon” has very particular spiritual allegories.
A Djinn or Genie would be an Arabic demon. It gave wishes like deals with the devil. Christina Aguilera, she was “Genie in a Bottle.” Her body was a vessel for something? Given someone was watching “The Voice,” Christina has had a particular fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20) Christina come out of Disney where Walt Disney was a 33rd Degree Freemason like Club 33.
Without a definition there is no point in discussing the topic.
Spirits, subconscious, demons, vessel, holy, god, etc. can mean anything from a force of nature, imbalance of some kind, mental illness, or even interdimensional beings with their own agency, will and schemes.
Perception is reality for homo sapiens.
That which you recognize to be true, becomes your truth, regardless of what objective truth and reality is.
You can create demons, you can create angels, you can create any number of invisible little friends for yourself. One person’s troubled past is another person’s demon that haunts him because thats how he views it.
Overarching reality does not tend to be this exciting.
Its mundane, and is circled around perception. A thousand different words and stories to describe the same thing.
I was providing definitions. These definitions align with a Tradition of Revelation or various traditions of mysticism. These definition may be seen in creation and the media right now.
Calling into question the definitions is not helpful and belies the reality.
The Bible doesn’t verbatim define certain things. Some hard truths are between the lines, and seen in men living God. They are seen in creation.
Theology may have just been Metaphysics and part of Philosophy. Eastern Mysticism ventures into spiritual things and religion. Thomas Aquinas separated Theology from Philosophy. Theology became Revelation. Philosophy was Greek Reason.
To be in Revelation, someone needs to be Aligned. (Philippians 2:2) They need to align with The Prophets of the Bible. Jesus came fulfilling the words of the Prophets. The Bible is The Word of God. God was speaking through particular men like Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Isaiah with a “Thus Saith The Lord.” God doesn’t lie. Given God spoke something, it came true. This gets into The Power of the Tongue?
How does someone align?
I don’t know. Say it with me. “I don’t know.”
I don’t care.
A man may need to be an etch-a-scetch. You were taught wrong. You need to forget. The Holy Ghost is a teacher and a councilor. Someone needs to be teachable.
In aligning, someone may have ended up pretty “Orthodox.” Not 100% Orthodox like Orthodox Christian, but very traditional. God didn’t change.
Philosophy is not Greek Reason. There is only one reason, first of all, there is only reason.
Philosophy, and Greek Philosophy is the only philosophy, is a tradition and activity that requires and deals with many subtle things, including reason. By the way, including theology.
I used to think like that. Why would Theology and Philosophy be separate? My journey of faith was one of reason…that God works in very reasonable ways. After 12-13 years of talking about God online in various places such as this…I found that Theology was separate from Philosophy. We may be able to bring them back together.
Random article I found with a quick internet search towards having a basis of understanding.
Thomas Aquinas talked about “The Nature of Angels.” Someone like John Calvin would look at “The Nature of Angels,” and say, “I don’t need that to be saved.”
Protestantism worked to separate itself from anything having to do with purgatory, and went “Bible Only,” rejecting a Tradition of Revelation. Rejecting ALL of the Tradition of Revelation was blinding. Eventually, there was “Liberal Theology,” which was a complete rejection of Christian Spiritualism towards Pagan/Occult Spiritualism and doing things to please atheists. This was even more blinding.
People have been taught wrong. To understanding God, and Spiritual things, someone needs to understand the Prophets.
I am presenting something from the perspective of Western Philosophy rooted in Christianity via Thomas Aquinas. Why is there Theology, as a category or discipline, in the first place? Why is theology just not part of Metaphysics? Thomas Aquinas separated Theology from Philosophy.
You are refusing the answer. I gave a citation and showed you where you can find more. It is really easy. Almost effortless. You are trying to force your own understanding.