Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Creationism, Evolution, and other science issues

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
John Human
Scholar
Posts: 354
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:49 pm
Location: Seattle
Been thanked: 6 times

Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #1

Post by John Human »

When I lived in Bali, I couldn't help observing the pervasive evidence of belief in demons. And of course demons put in an appearance in the Bible, not to mention in the gargoyles of old cathedrals.

On the other hand, modern science would seem to categorically reject the existence of demons, without a clear reason why, unless it has to do with the axiomatic presuppositions of science's governing ideology of reductionist materialism.

Question: Do demons exist? What evidence is there, for or against?

--
"Love is a force in the universe." -- Interstellar

"God don't let me lose my nerve" -- "Put Your Lights On"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCBS5EtszYI

"Who shall save the human race?"
-- "Wild Goose Chase" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L45toPpEv0

"A piece is gonna fall on you..."
-- "All You Zombies" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63O_cAclG3A[/i]

John Human
Scholar
Posts: 354
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:49 pm
Location: Seattle
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #421

Post by John Human »

Diagoras wrote: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:21 pm
It's not 'energy' as you normally use it. It's not really a 'shock' or a 'sign of the cross'. It's not even 'God' in the Bible, now.
Your post gives the impression of hand-wringing by someone whose sense of satisfied certainty has just been upended.

Regarding "God" in the Bible, you are clearly referring to post #40 (there's a good biblical number) in the "demon epidemic" thread in the "Christianity and Apologetics" sub-forum, where I mentioned an established doctrine that "Elohim" and YHWH" (in the Old Testament) are not interchangeable. So far, you haven't responded over there. You are still welcome to do so; here's a link:
-
viewtopic.php?t=4396&start=30

Online
User avatar
William
Savant
Posts: 14001
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:11 pm
Location: Te Waipounamu
Has thanked: 906 times
Been thanked: 1629 times
Contact:

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #422

Post by William »

[Replying to William in post #414]
Okay I will have a look at the stories.

In the spirit of trade, I offer you a story and - should you read it - please identify the "Ancient Demon" from the list of characters presented.

:)

WingMakers Philosophy 2 – The Shifting Models of Existence

eta:
Ancient Demon = 117
You Will
Duty Calls
Imperishable
Lots More
Nurture
Imaginal cells
Memorandum
Stochastic
The Father God

THE DEMON AND THE PRINCE = 201
Walk The Talk In Love
Sweet Vibrations
To Be Sovereignty
The lightest planet
With the story of "The Demon and the Prince" I am left with the idea that demonic behavior is like human behavior based primarily in self-survival techniques involving parasitic principles.

User avatar
Diagoras
Guru
Posts: 1392
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 12:47 am
Has thanked: 170 times
Been thanked: 579 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #423

Post by Diagoras »

John Human wrote: Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:47 am
Diagoras wrote: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:21 pm
It's not 'energy' as you normally use it. It's not really a 'shock' or a 'sign of the cross'. It's not even 'God' in the Bible, now.
Your post gives the impression of hand-wringing by someone whose sense of satisfied certainty has just been upended.
Let me be clear, then: I see you claiming one thing, then changing your claim once you are challenged on it.

Regarding "God" in the Bible, <...>
In this thread, let's stick to the OP. Do demons exist? Can that be tested? You have made many claims about demons, and supplied some stories about one, called Ancient Demon. What you haven't done is provide anything in the way of proof that this demon talks to you, or has visited me.

Can Ancient Demon read English words? Tell him to visit me, read the words on my t-shirt and describe the picture on it. Should be easy enough for him, right? I promise that if you fully answer this correctly, you'll have an immediate convert to the idea that demons exist.

While any excuse to ignore or not to perform this test doesn't automatically disprove the existence of demons, it certainly fits my working hypothesis that Ancient Demon is a fiction invented by you. It's entirely up to you to decide: are you going to astonish me, or not?

John Human
Scholar
Posts: 354
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:49 pm
Location: Seattle
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #424

Post by John Human »

Diagoras wrote: Thu Feb 10, 2022 3:56 pm
John Human wrote: Thu Feb 10, 2022 11:47 am
Diagoras wrote: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:21 pm
It's not 'energy' as you normally use it. It's not really a 'shock' or a 'sign of the cross'. It's not even 'God' in the Bible, now.
Your post gives the impression of hand-wringing by someone whose sense of satisfied certainty has just been upended.
Let me be clear, then: I see you claiming one thing, then changing your claim once you are challenged on it.
It is hard to avoid the conclusion that that is a bare-faced lie, over-compensating for your embarrassment on the other thread, where you have no reply.

User avatar
Diagoras
Guru
Posts: 1392
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 12:47 am
Has thanked: 170 times
Been thanked: 579 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #425

Post by Diagoras »

[Replying to John Human in post #424]

Au contraire. I have replied.

Perhaps now you'll produce some actual evidence in a 'Science and Religion' forum for some of the claims you have made about your 'Ancient Demon', and that you have been repeatedly challenged on. Replying with some manufactured grievance as a continuation of your obfuscation here isn't going to fool anyone.

Getting a 'funny feeling' about part of a church when you were a child seems to be the best evidence you've provided so far. I'm about as convinced as I would be if you told me there's monsters under my bed.

Sherlock Holmes

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #426

Post by Sherlock Holmes »

John Human wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:36 pm When I lived in Bali, I couldn't help observing the pervasive evidence of belief in demons. And of course demons put in an appearance in the Bible, not to mention in the gargoyles of old cathedrals.

On the other hand, modern science would seem to categorically reject the existence of demons, without a clear reason why, unless it has to do with the axiomatic presuppositions of science's governing ideology of reductionist materialism.

Question: Do demons exist? What evidence is there, for or against?

--
You ask do demons exist? This man at first thought they didn't...


User avatar
brunumb
Savant
Posts: 5993
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 4:20 am
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 6607 times
Been thanked: 3209 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #427

Post by brunumb »

[Replying to Sherlock Holmes in post #426]

Your signature stood out at the bottom of that clip and it does not appear to be correct or logical.

"When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be possible. There may be many things possible for a particular circumstance. How does that identify what must be the truth?
George Orwell:: “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
Voltaire: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
Gender ideology is anti-science, anti truth.

Kylie
Apprentice
Posts: 243
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:19 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 63 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #428

Post by Kylie »

John Human wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:36 pm When I lived in Bali, I couldn't help observing the pervasive evidence of belief in demons. And of course demons put in an appearance in the Bible, not to mention in the gargoyles of old cathedrals.

On the other hand, modern science would seem to categorically reject the existence of demons, without a clear reason why, unless it has to do with the axiomatic presuppositions of science's governing ideology of reductionist materialism.

Question: Do demons exist? What evidence is there, for or against?

--
As far as I know, there is no evidence for demons that does not have a better, non-demon explanation.

Sherlock Holmes

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #429

Post by Sherlock Holmes »

brunumb wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 7:46 pm [Replying to Sherlock Holmes in post #426]

Your signature stood out at the bottom of that clip and it does not appear to be correct or logical.

"When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be possible. There may be many things possible for a particular circumstance. How does that identify what must be the truth?
Seriously?

User avatar
brunumb
Savant
Posts: 5993
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 4:20 am
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 6607 times
Been thanked: 3209 times

Re: Do demons exist? Can that be tested?

Post #430

Post by brunumb »

Sherlock Holmes wrote: Mon May 23, 2022 3:08 pm
brunumb wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 7:46 pm [Replying to Sherlock Holmes in post #426]

Your signature stood out at the bottom of that clip and it does not appear to be correct or logical.

"When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

When one has eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be possible. There may be many things possible for a particular circumstance. How does that identify what must be the truth?
Seriously?
Absolutely. You haven't refuted it. Think about for a while and the penny might eventually drop.
George Orwell:: “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
Voltaire: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
Gender ideology is anti-science, anti truth.

Post Reply