Demonology - A Selection of Classic Articles on the History and Myths of Demonology

Various

Description

This volume features a series of historical and informative publications delving into the dark and mysterious subject of demonology.

Intended to guide readers in the historical context of demonology and the myths surrounding the subject, this volume is an illustrative resource of information and knowledge.

Featured articles in ‘Demonology’ include:

- ‘Obsession and Possession of the Devil’ by Augustine Calmet

- ‘Demons’ by Charles Wyllys Elliott

- ‘Spiritualism and Demonology’ by Rev. A. B. Morrison

Sujets

• Demonology
• Satanism
• Religion

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 06 septembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781473358539
• Langue: English

Extrait

Demonology
A Selection of Classic Articles on the History and Myths of Demonology
By
Various Authors
Copyright 2011 Read Books Ltd. This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Contents
Mysteries; Or, Glimpses of the Supernatural . Charles Wyllys Elliott
The Pedigree of the Devil . Frederic T. Hall
Spiritualism and Necromancy . Rev. A. B. Morrison
DEMONS.
Homer calls the gods d mons, and d mons gods. Either term seems to have suited him and some of the ancients. Another opinion was that they were intermediate between men and gods-and perhaps that they had once been men; * indeed it must have been so, for Plutarch speaks of human souls as commencing, first heroes, then d mons, and afterward as advancing to a more sublime degree. One practice these heathens had, which can not be counted as altogether foolish, it is thus given by Philo of Byblus: The most ancient of the barbarians, especially the Phenicians and Egyptians, from whom other people derived this custom, accounted those the GREATEST GODS who had found out things most necessary and useful in life- and had been benefactors to mankind . The reader may compare our practices with theirs, and draw his own conclusions as to what heathenishnees really is.
The term demon, however, is now used to mean malignant spirits, and comes so to us from the New Testament writers, as many of our notions upon such subjects do; though Mr. Farmer in his elaborate work concludes that they may be either good or bad-at any rate are distinct from what are called the Devil and his angels. So far we can repose in security. Alas, no! not so much as this is vouchsafed to mortal men, who in their frantic gropings for something definite, tangible, real, are apt, for very despair, to grasp at something monstrous. Even this, whether or no the demon is the imp of the devil? remains in doubt, for Dr. Lardner * seems to think them identical, and brings Scripture to prove it.
But Demoniacal Possession -who doubts that? Who doubts that the devils, when they found that they must go, as Mark tells us, should have besought, saying, Send us into the swine? And who doubts that the swine should have drowned themselves-or that the owner of the swine should have been both surprised and grieved? Or who doubts that the whole multitude of the country round about besought HIM to depart from them?
That the New Testament writers had full faith in this demoniacal possession is beyond question, whatever we may think of Jesus s own belief; yet it is equally true that there is no vestige of their teaching such belief, or giving it countenance except by not denying it. If usage is of any value to the incredulous, they may refer to Josephus s * words, which assert that the method of exorcism prescribed by Solomon prevailed or succeeded greatly among them down to the present time. This method is not specified; but as we have the satisfaction of knowing that his seal bore the Tetragammaton, the mystic letters which are the name of God, which rendered him in a sort omnipotent as well as omniscient, we can as readily believe that he should have done these magical things, as to have composed a sacred song, or have done some other of his recorded deeds.
From time to time, we have had vague and uncertain rumors that this signet, this name of God was yet in existence here below, and many have fondly hoped that it was so, and that by it distracting doubts might be resolved; but it has, so far, hidden itself from the vulgar soul. The Arabs and some others are said yet to hold on to this faith; for, as they truly say, if we give up this belief where shall we go?-words which have been echoed by men of this day, and in one sense by the godlike.
The answer may not be so plain to them as to some singular men who would recklessly say-to the devil, of course. Indeed, it may be a matter of painful interest to them, as well as to us, should they at any time discover that the truth is learned through other ways than by signets and stones; that while looking for these unreal and mystic signs, they have quite overlooked what is all around them, which, though mystic, is surely REAL .
It is not altogether insignificant for us to know that there are (so it is said) periods in history when these demoniacs , or possessed persons become numerous to a fearful degree. These periods are marked in the carnal history of man by dire miseries-of body, or of soul, or of both. When the strong oppress the weak, decreeing injustice by law, as men are prone to do, having such a wish for power that nothing can control it-not even their own wisdom; when the grinding sense of injustice breaks down the grains of self-respect and of hope (which every man should garner up in himself), as the mere earthly wheat is brought to dust between the relentless stones of the miller; when plunder, either by the strong hand, or that more fatal kind of the merciless official, renders labor unsafe and starvation sure, then DESPAIR steps in and reaps down the true and noble in man, and sows his tares of demonism and misery.
Those who doubt may look with wondering eyes at wonderful illustrations scattered with a too free hand through history-at the French Revolution, the decay of Rome, the destruction of Jerusalem-and learn wisdom before he too blindly and frantically grasps at wealth and power at such a cost.
Most complete are the results of this misery in those nations which have tasted of freedom and justice-such as Rome and Israel-and less wide among people who have, like the Sudras and the Blacks, grown chronic in their slavery.
That these ancients, believing some things which we do not, holding to special action rather than to general law, should have had a demon for each man (or, indeed, for each act or thought, for some were filled with a legion), need not excite our wonder; neither need it shake our faith in their wisdom, for that they had. We are to choose their good, and not gloat over the foolish.
It is also true that the ancients had a sort of dim or distinct faith in the words which these demoniacs uttered, such as we have seen was effective in the phrenetics of the oracles. Let us listen also to the striking truths which we sometimes hear in our mad-houses-truths which ought to be transplanted into our pulpits, and be heard for edification. He must be truly an infidel who, opening his eyes upon our Retreats and Hospitals and Asylums, vainly and vaguely iterates and reiterates that we ought to be thankful that there are none now possessed! Heavens! none!-
When Dr. Howe tells us that in Massachusetts alone we may count on hundreds perhaps thousands.
Socrates said of his d mon, that he many times perceived a voice warning him by divine instinct, which, saith he, when it comes, signifieth a dissuasion from that which I am going to do, but never persuades to do any thing. *
Many persons shrewdly suspect that the wise gossip was laughing in his eye; and especially from this latter fact; for the doing of any thing , he was careful to avoid much to Mrs. S. s disgust; and report said, that he came finally to spend more of his time with his familiar than with his Xantippe.
* See Plutarch, Plato, etc.
See also Farmer of Miracles.
* Works, vol i. p. 448.
Ch. v. ver. 12.
Luke ch. viii. ver. 87.
* Ant. I, viii.
See Webster s Speech.
* John Aubrey, from lian.
DEMONS.
Demons and Devils-Turanian Demonology-Spirits appurtenant and Spirits unattached-Rabbinical Spirits-Pan-Puck-Origin of the Idea of Spirits-Shade and Psyche-Dreams-Manes and Manes-worship-Patron-saints-Monsters-Jinns-Peris and Deevs-Elves-Mermen-Mermaids and Necks-Fairies-Lilith, Sorcery and Hair-Fates, Parc , Hathors and Nornir-Nymphs-Fays-Dame-du-lac-Oberon and Titania -Angels-Guardian Angels, Genii, Gods and Goddesses-Fravishis-Genius-Ka-Cosmical Spirits-Maskim-Titans-Frost Giants-Rephaim-Duergar-Dwarfs and Trolls-Metal-workers-Giants and Dwarfs-Accadians-Turanians-Lapps -Eskimos-Alleghans and Aztecs-Beehive and Communal Dwellings-Andaman Islanders-Recapitulation.
I N treating of demons, it is necessary to premise that there is a clear and well-defined distinction between a demon and a devil. They are both spiritual beings, but their attributes are essentially different. Originally, there were good as well as evil demons, although, in course of time, the term demons became exclusively identified with the idea of malignancy. Even then, however, their baneful influences were, in principle, not the result of a desire to injure, but simply of the fulfilment of their natural vocation; causing injury, it is true, but injury which was not the object aimed at, and which might at times be mixed with good. The evils, on the contrary, ascribed to the Devil had their sole origin and motive in pure malignity--
Evil, be thou my good. 1
The natural history of demons has received much and careful attention, and in result a tolerably clear idea of their nature and origin has been arrived at.
At the time that the history of the human race began, that is, when it first emerged from the period when neither written records nor continuous traditions were handed on from generation to generation; the human inhabitants of the world who first created history, appear to have all belonged to the great Turanian race, of which the Chinese are still considered to be, in an especial degree, the representatives: 2 and to which the aborigines of America can with certainty be referred. 3
It seems to be now satisfactorily established, that, at the dawn of history, these Turanian races extended over the whole habitable world; and although they have to a great extent succumbed to other races, whose religions have superseded theirs, they have nevertheless left on the surface of the great sea of huma