4 ms·

Does the Catholic Church not still practice exorcisms and a belief that demonic possession is a real thing? Last I checked, they do… I think a reasonable person

by Fezzik 4y ago

Does the Catholic Church not still practice exorcisms and a belief that demonic possession is a real thing? Last I checked, they do… I think a reasonable person, who is somewhat familiar with the centuries of ridiculous proclamations of the Catholic Church, would not be unreasonable in thinking it was reference to a real (imaginary) demon.

s1artibartfast 4y ago
I think they would be unreasonable. A reasonable person familiar with the church would know that 99.9% the talk of demons is metaphor and analogy these days.
- trillic 4y ago
  Fear of demons, fear of God, fear of what happens after death, fear of having a thought which may be construed as dissent or heresy, fear of speaking out against their fellow church leaders for pedophilic behaviors. The Catholic church is all about fear as a form of control.
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    I'm not a Catholic but I've been to a number of services and that is not my experience. Not saying those things haven't happened, but I don't think claiming that they are 99.9% is honest conversation. Maybe you should look at what elegant demons you have embraced, as we all should
- twojacobtwo 4y ago
  I think 99.9% is an extreme claim. I only know a few catholics but several of them have mentioned truly seeing/hearing demons or evil spirits and based on their secondhand accounts, multiple of their friends and family members make the same claim.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    It is an extreme claim, but when was the last time the Pope openly spoke of physical demons walking the earth. Demons are a thing in catholic religion, and they do get talked about, usually in the past tense. Sermons claiming that physical demons from hell walk among us like some sci-fi fantasy are very rare. I agree lay people might talk of demons more, the way people talk about ghosts or aliens. I was thinking more in terms of Sermon.
- Fezzik 4y ago
  I personally judge a church by its authorities and foundational texts, and the authorities and foundational texts of Catholicism are uncontrovertibly in support of the notion that demons and exorcisms are real things. Heck, one of the taglines for Jesus is that he “casts out demons.” Edit: spelling (and deleted and responded to the correct comment).
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    If you want to think that the pope was talking about a demon that is taking human form as an imposter in the Vatican, then I can't stop you. I think that the context of the quote clearly proves that this is wrong.
    - Fezzik 4y ago
      Don’t get me wrong, I know that demons aren’t real and that anyone that thinks they are is a buffoon. But let’s not pretend the Catholic Church (the authorities and foundational texts) is not all in on believing in demons: “Chronic mental and emotional problems may be exacerbated by demons,” he says, “because the devil likes to attack us where we’re weakest. But not every problem has a demon behind it.” https://www.catholic.com/news/the-truth-about-demons https://www.catholic.com/news/the-truth-about-demons “Demons are fallen angels under the command of Satan, those who are still free after the Gen. 6 affair. Satan is called the Prince, or Ruler, of all demons in Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15. Demons are also called the ministers, or ambassadors of Satan, Luke 4:35; 9:1,42; John 10:21. Satan is brilliant, an administrative genius. He has an excellent organization, mentioned in Eph. 6:10-12 (READ) The Bible also makes a distinction between demon possession and demon influence.” https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/fallen.php https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/fallen.php “This essay discusses the nature and behavior of demons, demonic possession, and the effects of demonic activity. Rev. Michael P. Orsi provides specific indicators of demonic possession and ways to rule out mental illness and / or the free will actions of a bad person.” https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7370 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?rec... “Church officials say that rediscovered obsessions with the occult, such as with Ouija boards, paganism, and Satanism, are causing people to suffer demonic possessions at an unparalleled rate. Priests can cast out demons by the rite of exorcism, but it requires special training that few priests have. Several dioceses, particularly in Spain and Italy, are sending priests to train for spiritual warfare unlike that seen in ages - if ever.” and “We would do well to remember that Pope Francis warned, "there are those that belong to him" (referring to Satan).” https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=53779 https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=53779 Edit, to add: my only point is that it is not unreasonable, given what the Catholic Church actually preaches (see above), to think it was a reference to an actual demon.
082349872349872 4y ago
If the choice were between {evolution, exorcism} and {}, I think I'd take the extreme catholic set including evolution, not the extreme protestant set, denying it. I'm also pretty sure Francis doesn't have any problems with a 4,5 billion-year old earth.

by Fezzik 4y ago

s1artibartfast 4y ago

I think they would be unreasonable. A reasonable person familiar with the church would know that 99.9% the talk of demons is metaphor and analogy these days.

trillic 4y ago
Fear of demons, fear of God, fear of what happens after death, fear of having a thought which may be construed as dissent or heresy, fear of speaking out against their fellow church leaders for pedophilic behaviors. The Catholic church is all about fear as a form of control.
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  I'm not a Catholic but I've been to a number of services and that is not my experience. Not saying those things haven't happened, but I don't think claiming that they are 99.9% is honest conversation. Maybe you should look at what elegant demons you have embraced, as we all should
twojacobtwo 4y ago
I think 99.9% is an extreme claim. I only know a few catholics but several of them have mentioned truly seeing/hearing demons or evil spirits and based on their secondhand accounts, multiple of their friends and family members make the same claim.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  It is an extreme claim, but when was the last time the Pope openly spoke of physical demons walking the earth. Demons are a thing in catholic religion, and they do get talked about, usually in the past tense. Sermons claiming that physical demons from hell walk among us like some sci-fi fantasy are very rare. I agree lay people might talk of demons more, the way people talk about ghosts or aliens. I was thinking more in terms of Sermon.
Fezzik 4y ago
I personally judge a church by its authorities and foundational texts, and the authorities and foundational texts of Catholicism are uncontrovertibly in support of the notion that demons and exorcisms are real things. Heck, one of the taglines for Jesus is that he “casts out demons.” Edit: spelling (and deleted and responded to the correct comment).
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  If you want to think that the pope was talking about a demon that is taking human form as an imposter in the Vatican, then I can't stop you. I think that the context of the quote clearly proves that this is wrong.
  - Fezzik 4y ago
    Don’t get me wrong, I know that demons aren’t real and that anyone that thinks they are is a buffoon. But let’s not pretend the Catholic Church (the authorities and foundational texts) is not all in on believing in demons: “Chronic mental and emotional problems may be exacerbated by demons,” he says, “because the devil likes to attack us where we’re weakest. But not every problem has a demon behind it.” https://www.catholic.com/news/the-truth-about-demons https://www.catholic.com/news/the-truth-about-demons “Demons are fallen angels under the command of Satan, those who are still free after the Gen. 6 affair. Satan is called the Prince, or Ruler, of all demons in Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15. Demons are also called the ministers, or ambassadors of Satan, Luke 4:35; 9:1,42; John 10:21. Satan is brilliant, an administrative genius. He has an excellent organization, mentioned in Eph. 6:10-12 (READ) The Bible also makes a distinction between demon possession and demon influence.” https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/fallen.php https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/fallen.php “This essay discusses the nature and behavior of demons, demonic possession, and the effects of demonic activity. Rev. Michael P. Orsi provides specific indicators of demonic possession and ways to rule out mental illness and / or the free will actions of a bad person.” https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7370 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?rec... “Church officials say that rediscovered obsessions with the occult, such as with Ouija boards, paganism, and Satanism, are causing people to suffer demonic possessions at an unparalleled rate. Priests can cast out demons by the rite of exorcism, but it requires special training that few priests have. Several dioceses, particularly in Spain and Italy, are sending priests to train for spiritual warfare unlike that seen in ages - if ever.” and “We would do well to remember that Pope Francis warned, "there are those that belong to him" (referring to Satan).” https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=53779 https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=53779 Edit, to add: my only point is that it is not unreasonable, given what the Catholic Church actually preaches (see above), to think it was a reference to an actual demon.

082349872349872 4y ago

If the choice were between {evolution, exorcism} and {}, I think I'd take the extreme catholic set including evolution, not the extreme protestant set, denying it. I'm also pretty sure Francis doesn't have any problems with a 4,5 billion-year old earth.