# do you believe a person can become possessed by the devil? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2002, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975 "2002-04-05T09:18:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![secretkeeper78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@secretkeeper78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/secretkeeper78)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/1 "2002-04-05T09:18:02Z")
or any spirit? or is it mental illness. I’m not saying that I do. I’m not sure what I believe. (the exorsist scared me to death) I am just interested and in others opinions. if you believe it in, have you ever experienced it first hand? like knew someone who was, like you can atest for it? just wondering ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/2 "2002-04-05T09:26:46Z")
I’ve seen my wife possessed by PMS . . . the Devil Himself couldn’t be a whole lot worse. 🙂 Seriously, though, I don’t know. I think most cases of spirit possession that aren’t frauds of one sort or another are probably the result of medical conditions–certain mental disorders, seizures, et cetera. Seriously ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/3 "2002-04-05T09:28:22Z")
Um, disregard that last “seriously,” please. And I previewed, too . . . wtf? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/4 "2002-04-05T11:08:51Z")
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…drumroll… Fred Phelps! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/5 "2002-04-05T11:12:59Z")
When I was in college, one of my colleagues (we’ll call her Mary, bwah hah hah) was married to a man who became convinced that she was carrying the Antichrist. They discussed this with their minister, and eventually he agreed that if they read a rite of exorcism over her, that would take care of it. The minister talked to Mary in private and said that he wasn’t sure her husband was correct, but that it couldn’t hurt and it might save their marriage. So, she went ahead and got exorcised. Unfortunately, her husband decided that it didn’t take, and she was still carrying the Spawn of Satan, and left her. She was talking to the minister after he left, and, to try to lighten things up, the minister asked, “So, you have you come up with any ideas for names for the kid yet?” “Sure,” said Mary. “How about Damien?” ---
**Author:** ![secretkeeper78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@secretkeeper78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/secretkeeper78)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/6 "2002-04-05T11:42:24Z")
[http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/d/demonic\_possession.htm](http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/d/demonic_possession.htm) here is a link against it… now i have to find some stories of it. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/7 "2002-04-05T12:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*When I was in college, one of my colleagues (we’ll call her Mary, bwah hah hah) was married to a man who became convinced that she was carrying the Antichrist. They discussed this with their minister, and eventually he agreed that if they read a rite of exorcism over her, that would take care of it. The minister talked to Mary in private and said that he wasn’t sure her husband was correct, but that it couldn’t hurt and it might save their marriage. So, she went ahead and got exorcised. > > Unfortunately, her husband decided that it didn’t take, and she was still carrying the Spawn of Satan, and left her. She was talking to the minister after he left, and, to try to lighten things up, the minister asked, “So, you have you come up with any ideas for names for the kid yet?” > > “Sure,” said Mary. “How about Damien?” \*\* Oh, this reminds me of a short story called “Rant”, by Nancy Collins. It’s about another guy who believes in the Antichrist, but is a lot more twisted than Mary’s husband. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/8 "2002-04-05T14:01:48Z")
In short, no. You can’t be possessed by the Devil because the Devil and all his infernal minions do not exist. The Devil is just a survival of Manichaean dualism inherited from Mesopotamian myth. Every culture has had its devil figure: Set, Ahriman, Dis, Beelzebub, Ravana, Pat Buchanan. In an agrarian world where one’s survival is dependent on forces out of one’s control, it’s easy to conceive of a malign supernatural agency that causes droughts, plagues, locusts, and other unpleasant events. If something evil hjappens to you, you can blame the Devil. If you have disturbing psychosexual impulses, one can blame demonic possession. As Flip Wilson used to say, “The Devil made me do it!” It’s high time our society grew up and left such primitive beliefs in the toybox where they belong. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/9 "2002-04-05T14:08:49Z")
Okay, so not everyone has the opinion that “demons are all figments of our imagination.” There are still enough people in this world that believe in a god, and if you believe in a god, you kinda have to belive in demons. The thing that gets me about Christians who claim that “the Devil made me do it,” or “The Devil made this happen” seem to forget that the Devil doesn’t rule Hell, **HE’S FUCKING IMPRISONED THERE!!!**. Read the fucking Bible and it tells you that much. So, what is the Devil’s influence over people? He gave an example of how to turn against God. So, when people do “the Devil’s work,” they’re doing something out of their own selfishness, “the Dark One” has no personal hand in it. As for demons of other faiths and whatnot, that I can’t tell you. But the Devil…no. ---
**Author:** ![seawitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/10 "2002-04-05T14:16:34Z")
I don’t believe that there is such a thing as demonic possession. But when it comes to people like Fred Phelps, I almost wish there were – I’d rather believe that he was an agent of evil than think that a person grew up in the same world I did and came out thinking the way he does. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/11 "2002-04-05T14:19:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AudreyK \* > \*\* > Oh, this reminds me of a short story called “Rant”, by Nancy Collins. It’s about another guy who believes in the Antichrist, but is a lot more twisted than Mary’s husband. \*\* You \* think\* that it’s only a story. But you are wrong! He is only resting and gathering strength for His transformation. Then He will take His vengance on all the suburban cows in robes and curlers and all the giggling girls in their tight designer jeans. Okay Back To Reality-I don’t believe in demonic possession. Or demons really. I do believe in trolls though. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/12 "2002-04-05T14:36:09Z")
Thank you, **gobear** , the Pat Buchanan remark literally made me laugh out loud – at work. And along the lines of **El Elvis Rojo** ’s “blame the Devil” semi-rant, I offer a select quote from Ray Wylie Hubbard’s [Conversation with the Devil](http://www.loveandluck.net/Babble/b112099.html) > [@](#): > > He said, “Come over here son let me show you around > Over there’s where we put the preachers; I never liked those clowns > They’re always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun > It ain’t that harder to do what’s right, it’s just maybe not as much fun > Then they walk around thinking they’re better than me and you > And then they get caught in a motel room doing what they said not to do” ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/13 "2002-04-05T15:01:36Z")
I challenge either the devil or his evil overlord - we’ll call him “God” - to show up anytime for a bitchslappin’ by me. [www.skepdic.com](http://www.skepdic.com) (skeptic’s dictionary…skep-dic) has excellent references to stories of demonic possession and exorcism…excellent references to some research. [skepdic.com](http://skepdic.com) is a must add “favorite”, as is [www.randi.org](http://www.randi.org) I expect any doper to be regulars there. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/14 "2002-04-05T15:06:22Z")
No, largely because I don’t believe in the Devil. Or demons. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/15 "2002-04-05T15:28:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*I challenge either the devil or his evil overlord - we’ll call him “God” - to show up anytime for a bitchslappin’ by me. > \*\* This reminds me of a story from the horror comic, Wasteland. Raoul is an ugly, short, poor, luckless man living in the slums. He builds up his reputation by challenging God to a fight repeatedly. He sets the time and place and waits there. Each time God doesn’t show up, Raoul’s reputation improves. Eventually he becomes the ruling criminal of the area. Then a small boy shows up and leaves a message challenging him to a fight. When Raoul shows, the little kid says that God sent him. He drops his lollypop, breaks Raoul’s arms and legs and leaves him crying in the street. ``` After reading a few issues, I realised that every story in Wasteland is a horror story. Some of them are just more thinly veiled than others. The real message of this story-God doesn't care about the pain and suffering in the slums and doesn't do anything to help these people. But if anyone insults Him, he takes vengeance. The moral of the story-God doesn't love anyone but Himself. A frightening thought indeed. ``` ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/16 "2002-04-05T15:33:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > \*\* The thing that gets me about Christians who claim that “the Devil made me do it,” or “The Devil made this happen” seem to forget that the Devil doesn’t rule Hell, **HE’S FUCKING IMPRISONED THERE!!!**. Read the fucking Bible and it tells you that much. So, what is the Devil’s influence over people? He gave an example of how to turn against God. So, when people do “the Devil’s work,” they’re doing something out of their own selfishness, “the Dark One” has no personal hand in it. \*\* Not really true - the book of Revelation talks about what **will** happen to the Evil One and his followers at the Day of Judgement, but for now, the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” ([1 Pet 5: 8](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=1PET+5:7-9&language=english&version=NIV-IBS&showfn=on&showxref=on)). As to the OP - demons, probably, the Devil, probably not. Gp ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/17 "2002-04-05T15:44:25Z")
Hell, I get possessed by the Devil all the time. He makes me do awful things like stay up all night playing Diablo 2 or eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. He also leaves the cap off the toothpaste sometimes. Bastard. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/18 "2002-04-05T16:05:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > \*\*Hell, I get possessed by the Devil all the time. He makes me do awful things like stay up all night playing Diablo 2 or eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. He also leaves the cap off the toothpaste sometimes. Bastard. \*\* (Homer Simpson Voice) It’s not my fault the seat was up. I was …ummm…possessed by the Devil. It was the Devil, Marge! Who knows what else he may have done? He might have poisoned that batch of cookies! I’d better check. (/Homer Simpson Voice) ---
**Author:** ![ummm.yeahh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ummm.yeahh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ummm.yeahh)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/19 "2002-04-05T16:07:09Z")
\*\* > [@](#): > > The thing that gets me about Christians who claim that “the Devil made me do it,” or “The Devil made this happen” seem to forget that the Devil doesn’t rule Hell, HE’S FUCKING IMPRISONED THERE!!!. Read the fucking Bible and it tells you that much. \*\* Before you tell others to read the bible, you may want to check it out yourself. Here’s Job 1:6-7 **"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord ‘From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.’"** Ok, so I read the bible and it doesn’t say anything about Satan being in hell. Maybe you should check your resources before you claim it. The idea that Satan is “the Lord of hell” is one of the biggest misconceptions out there. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975/20 "2002-04-05T16:16:45Z")
I believe that one can uncover pretty primal and dark parts of their unconscious mind in a waking state, and when doing so, appear or perceive themselves as pretty evil and nasty. As far as an external evil non-human entity? Nope. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-a-person-can-become-possessed-by-the-devil/101975.md?page=2)