Are Demons Real

[rinaslayter]

Does millions or billions of people belieiving in a certain religion actually make it real?  The same could be true of Demons, perhaps we actually "make" them as well.  Kind of a chicken or the egg scenario.

Look up the Flying Spaghetti Monster or FSMism. At a big convention on religion last year, that topic was actually addressed to much chagrin from other organized religions.

http://www.wired.com/culture/education/news/2007/11/flying_spaghetti_monster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

I think demons exist, but there are many different 'flavors' if you will. Some are invited, others force their way in. Some are strong, some are weak. Some are imaginary, but then again, in our imagination, everything is real.

[ttjoon]

Does millions or billions of people belieiving in a certain religion actually make it real?  The same could be true of Demons, perhaps we actually "make" them as well.  Kind of a chicken or the egg scenario.

I think demons exist, but there are many different 'flavors' if you will. Some are invited, others force their way in. Some are strong, some are weak. Some are imaginary, but then again, in our imagination, everything is real.

Yes, perception is reality....

[MichaelF (FPIE)]

Does millions or billions of people belieiving in a certain religion actually make it real?  The same could be true of Demons, perhaps we actually "make" them as well.  Kind of a chicken or the egg scenario.

Look up the Flying Spaghetti Monster or FSMism. At a big convention on religion last year, that topic was actually addressed to much chagrin from other organized religions.

http://www.wired.com/culture/education/news/2007/11/flying_spaghetti_monster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

I think demons exist, but there are many different 'flavors' if you will. Some are invited, others force their way in. Some are strong, some are weak. Some are imaginary, but then again, in our imagination, everything is real.

While Pastafarianism is funny as heck, it's really more of a mockery of Religious design then an attempt to actually create the FSM due to having believers.  If reality were actually shaped in some fasion by belief, I think you would actually have believe not jsut pretend to do so.  Good links though thanks.

[Suzannah]

I think the only mental health professionals that are getting "Guru" status, are those idiots on television like Dr. Phil and the like.  You can only give someone "Guru" status if you are LOOKING for a Guru.  Mental Health Professionals that do what Jen does, day in and day out, are the REAL heroes.  These heroes are the unsung ones.  They are the ones that truly care and aren't trying to make a buck off of other people's suffering.  Unless you've been in that profession and walked in hers or anyone else's shoes in that vocation, you have no room to judge.  You can be a rebel all you want, but realize this: No one has all the answers and no one ever will.  Sorry...but MY Juju is in a bunch. 

I've been out of town and so just now catching up.  Tracy, I think you have entirely misread my original post to Jen.  I complimented her on her views and acknowledged her professionalism and compassion. 

I don't apologize however, for disturbing sacred cows, which is what this field of endeavor is all about.  Additionally, if my use of English is flawed and you have failed to understand me, then I chalk this up to the fact that my first languages are Greek and Arabic.  But I certainly am trying to use English in a respectful and thoughtful way in order to communicate with you.  If this forum does not allow for respectful disagreement with PPI members, which I believe I have shown, then I will certainly take it off my list of interesting discussions. 

[ttjoon]

I think the only mental health professionals that are getting "Guru" status, are those idiots on television like Dr. Phil and the like.  You can only give someone "Guru" status if you are LOOKING for a Guru.  Mental Health Professionals that do what Jen does, day in and day out, are the REAL heroes.  These heroes are the unsung ones.  They are the ones that truly care and aren't trying to make a buck off of other people's suffering.  Unless you've been in that profession and walked in hers or anyone else's shoes in that vocation, you have no room to judge.  You can be a rebel all you want, but realize this: No one has all the answers and no one ever will.  Sorry...but MY Juju is in a bunch. 

I've been out of town and so just now catching up.  Tracy, I think you have entirely misread my original post to Jen.  I complimented her on her views and acknowledged her professionalism and compassion. 

I don't apologize however, for disturbing sacred cows, which is what this field of endeavor is all about.  Additionally, if my use of English is flawed and you have failed to understand me, then I chalk this up to the fact that my first languages are Greek and Arabic.  But I certainly am trying to use English in a respectful and thoughtful way in order to communicate with you.  If this forum does not allow for respectful disagreement with PPI members, which I believe I have shown, then I will certainly take it off my list of interesting discussions. 

Suzannah,
I don't think I misread anything. Neither did Jen.  Jen is a good friend of mine and a fellow investigator on my team.  We are both with TAPS and no longer w/ PPI, although we still consider PPI investigators our second family.  I don't have an issue with you...um...disturbing sacred cows.  I think you should take that up with someone else.  But, be that as it may, we DO allow for respectful disagreement.  No one is at war here with anyone else.  However, to get respectful disagreement, you have to give it as well.  Jen gives her heart and soul to what she does every single day.  Her clients are the people that society sees only as "throw aways".  She was hurt by your words and I was hurt for her.  You see, I am a former social worker.  For 12 years, I worked with abused children, battered women and the mentally ill.  So I suppose when I read your post, a little bit of emotion was sparked in me.  PPI is a wonderful site with wonderful and knowledgeable people. We do have interesting discussions.  We also give each other room to disagree.  We can do this with respect.  A difference of opinion is fine and it is also healthy.  We learn so much from each other.  However, we have to realize that while stating our opinions is fine, we also have to marry it with respect and kindness as well.

[johnny]

Ricky: "Well, with all due respect, Mr. Dennit, I had no idea you'd gotten experimental surgery to have your balls removed."
Larry Dennit, Jr: "What did you-- What did you say? What was that?"
Ricky: "Well, what? I said 'With all due respect.'"
Larry Dennit, Jr: "That doesn't mean you get to say whatever you want to say to me."
Ricky: "I sure as heck does."
Larry Dennit, Jr: "No, no, it doesn't mean that."
Ricky: "It's in the Geneva Convention. Look it up."

[Don]

Light vs. Dark?Good vs. Evil. I think common sense is you can not have one with out another. I grew up in a home where I saw dark shapeless shadows that seemed to move with the intent to block my path of travel. I also saw pure white silhouettes of a person standing in the hallways of the house. I lived with my grandmother who used to frequent fortune tellers and tarot card readers. She also met with a fortune teller that would basically comb her hair in a fashion to divide her scalp in to four quadrants and read her future?kinda weird. Well recently, like today, I dove onto the web finding some references that possibly dabbling into these sooth-sayers could invite demonic harassment. One site even alluded to a lady that ended up being diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (MPD) after having sessions with a psychic and a crystal ball and starting to experience demonic harassment. I also find that interesting due to the fact my grandmother eventually developed severe Alzheimers/dementia. Further the day after my grandmother?s passing I never experienced a single event in the house ever again. I lean toward the possibility of the white figure being a good or light spirit trying to balance the other. Now nothing physical ever happened to me, but maybe scaring the crap out of a 10 year old is enough harassment for a demon.   

[PPI Tim]

Hey Don,
Nice to see you on the boards.
I wonder if the thing you saw was a being that feed on emotions.
Being a kid with no real understanding of what you were confronting.
Fear would be an emotion that could be generated quite easy.
I always think about an old Star Trek episode where Kirk had one on his ship.
That creature feed on anger and rage.

[Don]

True possibility, the constant state of fear I was in would probably be enough to keep whatever this was going. But I still have no real guess to nail down the absence of the "thing" after the passing of my grandmother.

[PPI Tim]

I think it might have been a Thoughtform that your grandmother created.

[Don]

I did some net surfing on thoughtforms seems reasonable thanks

[PPI Tim]

I think alot of what we will investigate will be thoughtform related.

[PPI Brian]

Ricky: "Well, with all due respect, Mr. Dennit, I had no idea you'd gotten experimental surgery to have your balls removed."
Larry Dennit, Jr: "What did you-- What did you say? What was that?"
Ricky: "Well, what? I said 'With all due respect.'"
Larry Dennit, Jr: "That doesn't mean you get to say whatever you want to say to me."
Ricky: "I sure as heck does."
Larry Dennit, Jr: "No, no, it doesn't mean that."
Ricky: "It's in the Geneva Convention. Look it up."

In the south, the expression is: "Bless his/her heart, but..." That gives you free reign to say anything.