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Demons
May 8, 2023 2:16:55 GMT
Post by Dr. Robert Gotcher on May 8, 2023 2:16:55 GMT
Is spirituality different if demons don’t exist? If they do?
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marc
New Member
Posts: 8
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Demons
May 11, 2023 2:39:14 GMT
Post by marc on May 11, 2023 2:39:14 GMT
Augustine said "the devil is the ape of God". And it has no power of its own. Demons are a threat because of what they are but they are just an avenue, technically it would be different if they did not exist....but temptation does not need a demon to exist so I don't think it would matter much for us.
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jan
New Member
Posts: 9
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Demons
May 20, 2023 17:37:57 GMT
Post by jan on May 20, 2023 17:37:57 GMT
I think it would be different. For the reason of agency. Our understanding of spirituality is the forming of the soul to its Maker. That forming is necessary, because we have chosen to separate ourselves. That choice is a consequence of our wills, the source of our agency, or actions. Demons are ever tempting our wills to choose other than God. In their absence, with what are we left? Evil as a "state" or an "environment" or a condition? The conforming our wills to God's, the end of true spirituality, is difficult to imagine without an opponent to our will, an enemy determined to prevent that union.
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Demons
May 29, 2023 20:15:27 GMT
Post by Chris Lauterbach on May 29, 2023 20:15:27 GMT
I think that if demons did not exist we would fall further from spirituality that society has already. To love God freely is His ultimate desire to us, but the presence of demons serves two functions in my opinion.
First, demons test us, and threaten our relationship with God. However, if we resist the urge to fall into that trap, I think it strengthens our resolve and brings us closer to God.
Second, demons are an example of what happens if we fall away from God, and example of punishment and the possibility of eternal punishment.
One question I have is, were demons created by God for the purpose of testing us? Were they always part of Gods plan?
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