COMPLEX SCIENCE
The word «demon» comes from the Greek and referred to a power contained in good and bad souls. Demonology is dedicated to researching the characteristics of different demons, according to the beliefs of each religion. The study analyzes reports about evil beings throughout history and makes comparisons between spirits – for example, many Jewish demons were inspired by Babylonian beings
GREEK INFLUENCE
The Bible does not explain who the demons are and how they are organized. To better understand who are the greatest enemies of God, theologians have studied evil beings since the origin of Christianity. Around the 4th century, it was decided that Satan looks like the Greek god Pan, with horns, a tail and red skin.
CROWD OF EVIL
The Qur’an mentions demonic spirits frequently. They are the jinn, beings that have been part of the beliefs of the residents of the Arabian Peninsula since 1000 BC For Islam, the boss of all is Iblis, the equivalent of Satan. Muslim theologians say that the jinn were adapted from the Jewish belief that Lucifer would have dragged a third of the angels with him.
FOR ALL TASTES
Hinduism believes in the existence of spirits at different stages of development. Several of them are so evil and manipulative that they can only be classified as demons. This is the case of the “pisacas”, beings with dark skin, red eyes and that feed on human flesh. And the “buta”, lost spirits, who wander at night confusing travelers
EASTERN HELL
Scholars of Asian religions identify a Buddhist (and Hindu) version of hell. It is Naraka, an underground space organized into 28 sectors – all dedicated to mistreating less evolved souls, who would learn through pain before reincarnating. There everyone would be beaten and burned
HEL ORIGINAL
It is no coincidence that “hell” in English is “hell”. Norse mythology states that there are nine worlds, and one of them is the dreaded “Hel”. Headed by the goddess Hela, daughter of Loki, it is home to a series of demons, such as the “heljar-hrafnar”, specialized in eating eyes, the “dolgar”, types of hungry undead, and the dragon “Vanar-Drekar ”, whose flapping wings make the earth tremble
STUDENTS
To become a demonologist, one does not necessarily have to be a priest of the religion one practices. But it is important to study theology and do a specialization – in the case of Christianity, there are, in Europe and the United States, universities that offer master’s degrees, doctorates and even Ph.D. in demonology. The Vatican offers courses for demonologists and exorcists
What are Demons
How Christianity Describes the Beings of Darkness
- Some are immortal, like Beelzebub, Lilith and Naamah. Others, more fragile, can be destroyed by angels (but not by humans)
- They cannot go back to being angels: those who once were, but rebelled against God and will remain trapped in this condition until the Last Judgment
- Since Lucifer lost his battle with God and was exiled to Hell, no new demons have been formed.
- Angels don’t have sex. Demons don’t either, but they seem to: to cause confusion, they can appear as extremely sensual men and women.
- Angels and demons cannot procreate. But demons can have sex, as long as they’re incorporated into the body of humans (or animals!)
- Ordinary people cannot become demons, no matter how cruel, selfish and arrogant they are. And demons can’t turn ordinary people
- Demons are intelligent beings with their own personalities. Can betray and deceive everyone, including other demons (except the boss, Lucifer)