# Do more people these days believe in literal demons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 13, 2023, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714 "2023-02-13T14:29:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/41 "2023-02-14T01:44:37Z")
Characters in a story. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/42 "2023-02-14T01:46:02Z")
I’m Jewish so take this with a grain of kosher salt- I never saw the need for a devil or demons. Satan gets one real mention in the Torah. He’s in the Book Of Job. The word satan, meaning adversary or opponent isn’t capitalized (there being no capital letters in classic Hebrew). If you lift it out and stick in ‘prosecuting angel’ instead the story flows just the same. Any Jewish sage will tell you that all humans have a yetzer tov- the inclination to do good and a yetzer hoora the inclination to do evil. Jewish folklore and the Cabalah are filled with demons. In fact, the Hellraiser/ Nightbreed crossover begins with a real quote from a Cabalist “If we could perceive the demons, life would be impossible. They outnumber us ten to one.” But in the world where the Holocaust happened, who needs demons to explain evil? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/43 "2023-02-14T01:46:37Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Then who was that guy that tempted Christ? Or the one who tempted Eve? A belief in a Christian god means you follow the New Testimont, and yes, they are characters in the story You haven’t answered my questions. I’m still struggling to understand how your understanding of the nature of god, as a christian, could possibly have room for demons capable of possessing people and having very real effects upon the world. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/44 "2023-02-14T01:48:46Z")
Satan can only influence…but his lesser minions can directly effect and/or attack humans? By the way, what does the Bible say about succubi? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/45 "2023-02-14T01:49:03Z")
The OP asked about people who believed in demons these days. A religious debate discussion would be off topic. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/46 "2023-02-14T01:51:03Z")
On the other hand, people’s opinions about the possibility of literal demons even existing might fit right in. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/47 "2023-02-14T01:53:31Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > The OP asked about people who believed in demons these days. A religious debate discussion would be off topic. From the OP: > 1. If this is a real phenomenon, why is it happening? So, fine. Answer that, then. Why is this allowed to happen, literal demons allowed to possess people and override their will under your conception of god? Because you’re the one who insists your belief in demons is not only grounded in, but necessary on account of, your belief in the christian god. ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/48 "2023-02-14T01:54:34Z")
That is good advice for dealing what is generally called, in my circles anyway, “toxic people”. How do you deferentiate a regular negative person from one who is actually demonic? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/49 "2023-02-14T02:02:08Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I agree with my esteemed colleague, Dr. RickJay. While there was a core element of the Satanic Panic movement that literally believe in evil spirits/demons, it managed to gain widespread popularity because it tapped into the more tangible fears that real people were preying on children. Even with D&D, the most widespread fear was that it blurred the lines between reality and fantasy and could be psychologically damaging. > > I need to qualify my statement. I don’t think there was any widespread Satanic movement engaging in the ritual abuse of children. Only that the fear someone might be hurting children is a bit more tangible than worrying about a demon influencing people. I think it was also an early example of the accusation being a confession, albeit maybe a subconscious one. Recall that there was at the time a very real, very widespread conspiracy in the Roman Catholic church to sexually abuse children and cover it up. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/50 "2023-02-14T02:03:12Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Because I frankly cannot fathom how one can simultaneously believe in the christian god as traditionally understood _and_ demons capable of possessing humans. [There are numerous accounts in the gospels of demon-possession and Jesus driving out demons.](https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=demon&version=NIV) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/51 "2023-02-14T02:10:01Z")
Are there any accounts of mental illness, delusion or scam artists? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/52 "2023-02-14T02:16:34Z")
I believe that Jesus accused the money changers if being scam artist. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/53 "2023-02-14T02:21:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Satan can only influence…but his lesser minions can directly effect and/or attack humans? Not sure if this was directed at me, as I didn’t mention Satan. FWIW In Job it does appear Satan directly effected him, but that’s a different subject. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > By the way, what does the Bible say about succubi? Incubi and succubi are not words that appear in the Bible. There are however verses about various aspects of engaging in sex with various supernatural beings. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/54 "2023-02-14T02:23:00Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > FWIW In Job it does appear Satan directly effected him, but that’s a different subject. You should re-read it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/55 "2023-02-14T02:23:41Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Incubi and succubi are not words that appear in the Bible. What type of demons _are_ mentioned in the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/56 "2023-02-14T02:40:12Z")
> [@WellHelloThere](#): > > How do you deferentiate a regular negative person from one who is actually demonic? There are some signs that can indicate it, perhaps the clearest would be having something like a feeling of large energy drain (being tired), or feeling of confusion/being overwhelmed, or even feeling being violated after talking with this person, or otherwise likewise engaged with this person. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/57 "2023-02-14T02:43:55Z")
Boy this really takes “toxic relationship” to a new level! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/58 "2023-02-14T02:49:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What type of demons _are_ mentioned in the Bible? The kind that people sacrifice their children to and the kind that can ‘reside’ in people, teaching demons that lead people astray, and some end times stuff. ---
**Author:** ![WellHelloThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@WellHelloThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WellHelloThere)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/59 "2023-02-14T02:49:03Z")
I have to say, I have known many people who leave me feeling drained. I do not see why I should assume that they are demonic. Usually I just think of them as assholes, or maybe people with mental issues. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714/60 "2023-02-14T02:50:31Z")
Did your succubus(which term, btw, came into being about the 14th century) have any physical deformities, like bird-type claws or a snake tail? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-more-people-these-days-believe-in-literal-demons/979714.md?page=4)