Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

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Cookies
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Cookies »

The second Sarah realized that the Goblin King was a creation of her own mind, he disappeared! "You have no power over me!" she told him! And she was right, because SHE was his creator!
....Yet, she still decided to keep the creations that brought her joy, hanging around. ;)

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Thinker »

Cookies wrote:The second Sarah realized that the Goblin King was a creation of her own mind, he disappeared! "You have no power over me!" she told him! And she was right, because SHE was his creator!
....Yet, she still decided to keep the creations that brought her joy, hanging around. ;)
The easiest person to fool is ourselves!
It is a bit of a paradox. At some point, most of us realize our thoughts cannot help but be subjective... for good or bad.
It's a blessing to realize the bad subjectivity is in our minds - so we can simply change our thoughts and thus feel & behave better.
However, the good subjectivity in our minds needs to be nourished (with appropriate reality checks)...
"Functional illusions are priceless!" :)

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Thinker »

I was wondering what makes one more vulnerable to bad spirits, and how to guard against evil spirits.
I do not think that God imposes evil spirits on us, contrary to Pslams 78:49.
Just as "the kingdom (realm/experience) of God is within you" - so do we resonate to evil internally - not externally.
It's all internal processes - so it must be explored and dealt with internally.

A lot of OT scriptures refer to "familiar spirits."
Familiar is "commonly or generally known or seen; well acquainted; pertaining to a family or household..."
I do think that spirits - good and bad - that we resonate to are often in a sort of either biological and/or spiritual family.

It's interesting that Jesus gave power against unclean spirits and to cast them out and heal all dis-ease - as if disease is related to unclean spirits.
I appreciate that it is important to pray - and "evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray."
Evil spirits inspire hurting others, and often we may be unaware of its influence on us (Luke 9:52-55).

What has really helped me realize and feel empowered about how to guard against evil spirits is meaning from Matt. 12:43-45.
Unclean spirits taken otu of a man may return to that man if the man is "empty, swept and garnished" - and may even bring more evil spirits than previously.
Empty: unoccupied, unconscious, without knowledge or sense, hungry.
Swept: to make a path or opening for, make space for, remove and clear obstacles.
Garnished: crudely or tastelessly colorful, showy, or elaborate (appealing, comfortably resonating)


The key to not being taken by evil spirits is to be conscious - to be mindful- mentally occupied in our spirits - with what we really want - what is of God, so there is no room for evil.
It is not to be so busy even doing good - that you are ignorant if what you're doing is really good.
But it is to be mindful - to know and be aware of your own strengths as well as weaknesses - and doing your humanly best possible, while acknowledging when you inevitably make mistakes, correcting ways and improving.
It is, with reasonable and spiritual guidance, being captain of one's own soul - rather than mindlessless going along with some other master.

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SouEu
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by SouEu »

Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits? Yes they do. Mostly because their behavior, but sometimes I think being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I had a missionary companion that was a recent convert. His convert story is quite interesting. In Brazil there are some witchcraft / Black Magic religions that are unfortunately popular - Macumba, Umbanda and Candomblé to name a few. They actually invite the spirits into their bodies. There was a huge problem with possession from evil spirits and the missionaries had all sorts of encounters.

My companion wasn't into that stuff, but he and his brother bought a house where those rituals were performed by the previous owners. They were there cleaning up the place and painting over all of the Satanic symbols, and fixing it up. At the end of the day they decided to stay the night. My companion woke up in the middle of the night just in time to see a spirit descend into his chest. It lifted him up off the bed a couple of feet, and he blacked out. He woke up the next day in the middle of the street, with a big knife in his hand and his brother yelling at him, asking why he would want to kill him. My companion was scared and looked for help. He said that he looked in the mirror and could tell that something wasn't right. He prayed for help, and what do you know, he came across a pair of LDS missionaries later that day. They gave him a blessing and cast it out. He took the discussions, got baptized and started preparing for a mission.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after out first "encounter" as companions that he told me about his conversion story. I won't go into details, but I will say that it truly happens, and it is frightening. Unexplainable things happen, and most of all EVIL has a feeling, like hot or cold, or anything else, I felt it, heard it and I'll leave it at that. I also came to know of the power of the Priesthood in dealing with these issues, it is a true power. God also watches over his servants and builds them up to handle these situations. You learn the some of the things that you see in movies are actual things that occur (maybe not exactly), and there is a lot more that you see in movies which is just stupid, made up stuff that doesn't bear any resemblance to the truth. My companion told me about his Partiarchal Blessing where it talked about what he endured, and it told him that he would be called upon to help many others who faced the same situation (I wish I knew about his blessing when we first became companions).

Suffice to say, that was the first of many situations that I faced. Some of my junior companions got their first experience while with me. One, poor guy, Opened his eyes during the blessing while we were casting an evil spirit out of a lady. He saw it leave her and turn and look him in the eye, then walk off. He was freaked out for a long time.

This stuff is real folks, it's not something you want to experience. Same people try to chalk it off as someone who is crazy, that there is no such thing, but there is a HUGE difference between mental illness and someone who is possessed. If you experience it in your lifetime, you will understand. Unfortunately, I would guess that many many missionaries all around the world, in Africa, The Caribbean, and South America, as well as other places can tell you of their encounters, but they probably will not. They will tell you that they happened, but not go into details about what happened. In fact, I've probably spoken too much.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Zathura »

Are you Brasilian?

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Rose Garden
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Rose Garden »

SouEu wrote: This stuff is real folks, it's not something you want to experience. Same people try to chalk it off as someone who is crazy, that there is no such thing, but there is a HUGE difference between mental illness and someone who is possessed. If you experience it in your lifetime, you will understand. Unfortunately, I would guess that many many missionaries all around the world, in Africa, The Caribbean, and South America, as well as other places can tell you of their encounters, but they probably will not. They will tell you that they happened, but not go into details about what happened. In fact, I've probably spoken too much.
I wouldn't say you've spoken too much. I think not talking about these things is detrimental to us spiritually. When they happen, people don't understand what is happening and they deal with it in all the wrong ways.

We should not take them lightly, by any means. I don't think we should be swapping these stories at night by firelight in order to get a thrill from them. But I do believe serious discussion and sharing of experiences would be helpful among those who desire to follow Christ. We should all know how to cast evil out of our lives. Why else would we be taught how to in the temple?

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Sirocco »

Fiannan wrote:
Desert Roses wrote:Also, thanks Bethany--I started doing a little research, and realized this "possession" can be a good explanation of why reincarnation is believable. If, as it seems, these spirits are those who died in their sins and are now in the body/mind of mortals, when memories of these spirits come up, without understanding they are not "ME" but "the other" spirit whose memories these are, it begins to appear that there was another life lived!

Very helpful! Thanks again, Bethany!
If a spirit can dwell in a human body then what about when we create synthetic bodies, maybe even with synthetic, man-made DNA, and also possessing artificial intelligence? Could this enable Satan's spirits to be able to function in these super-human entities?

So I could create an army of satanic cyborgs?

If so that could greatly steer me closer to my dream of creating the perfect bio-mechanical android.
One who is unrivaled throughout the universe. Little strapped for names so I think I'll just go for... Cell.

isaacs2066
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by isaacs2066 »

jbalm wrote:No. Agency trumps evil spirits.


Right, a few days ago, I was having a bout of insomnia and all the sudden I felt this really dark presence.

Then all the sudden a thought formed in my mind.

"We are coming for you, you are mine."

Couldn't help but let out a chuckle before I very clearly and audibly told it to freak off.

Except the word I used only had four letters...

Anyway, must have been a little confused that I wasn't scared because it quickly vacated my house.

isaacs2066
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by isaacs2066 »

Original_Intent wrote:I thought the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was pretty legit.


Let me get this straight.

Porn, (*something not even addressed in the scriptures) will lead to possession but watching a movie basically made to turn possession into an entertaining plot line won't...?

(*that part in matthew is wrongly translated from the greek. Jesus was reminding them that not only is adultery a sin but so was coveting another mans wife)

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Joel
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Joel »

Derren Brown did a show on this subject:

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h_p
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by h_p »

Jezebel wrote:I wouldn't say you've spoken too much. I think not talking about these things is detrimental to us spiritually. When they happen, people don't understand what is happening and they deal with it in all the wrong ways.

We should not take them lightly, by any means. I don't think we should be swapping these stories at night by firelight in order to get a thrill from them. But I do believe serious discussion and sharing of experiences would be helpful among those who desire to follow Christ. We should all know how to cast evil out of our lives. Why else would we be taught how to in the temple?
Totally agree. Plus, I like what John Pontius had to say about this subject:
John Pontius wrote:Since that evening, which was many years ago, that particular batch of tormentors has not returned to her home. Her prayers and spirituality quickly returned to normal.

It takes a lot of pondering to understand experiences like this. I’ve had almost seventeen years now to think about this. I believe we are in a very dangerous war, and that we hardly realize it. I think we have a powerful weapon in the Priesthood, which we hardly invoke for that purpose. I think the reason Heavenly Father lets us “see” these things sometimes, is simply to awaken us to our perilous situation, and to teach us to resist evil while it is being held back by divine law.

I also think that as the times of Zion approach, as we grow more and more Zion-worthy, that opposition will increase. The power of evil will amplify, and this war will evolve from unseen, to very in-your-face. When we begin to build Zion, the balance of good and evil that exists will be tipped dramatically, and the bowels of hell will erupt all around us. Then, these small lessons in repelling evil will be invaluable. We will have already engaged the enemy, and we will be equipped both by our faith, and by our enlightened perception, to stand in places made holy by our presence, and not be moved.
The whole article is good: https://unblogmysoul.wordpress.com/2010 ... ly-places/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by ChristopherABrown »

Ratbag wrote:Do people, adults and children, get possessed by evil spirits? If so, how common is it. If you do or do not think so, please back up what you say by scripture and quotes from church sources.
I won't be able to back this up from scripture. But biology and psychology will support it.

People are human beings and animal beings with a full array of instincts. That array actually covers from the most primitive animal life through the highest principles human beings can know and respond to. They are described by DNA.

The instincts controlling behavior are termed "phylogenetic DNA". They are invoked by our perceptions, internal and external.

There is a tendency at times for a fixation to occur using one or more sets of DNA or instinctual responses to perceptions. Those, can shift from our basic human responses to animalistic responses. The reasons for this shift can be external or internal.

We flat out do not know very much about what is going on with our mind while sleeping. It is altogether possible for a fixation to develop in the human mind at childhood which does not emerge in behaviors until much later in life, again, that can be completely internal or have obvious external aspects relating to conditions. Dream state influence is an unknown aspect, but it is known that people are often profoundly influenced by dreams. As it is possible to not remember a dream, it is also possible that a dream not remembered still influences which instincts are use to control conscious behaviors.

Then, there are epigenetics. Conditions invoke which genes produce cells and which ones do not. Thoughts and mental events are conditions that our phylogenetic DNA responds too. Over time, those responses and the resulting production of genes can become fixed resulting in what appears to our society as disturbed or ill.

When things effecting behavior are termed "spirits", there is a strong temptation to use historical labels applied to describe the behaviors rather than the pragmatic recognition that they are internal events triggered by some perception.

If psychology was not so controlled by church and state, it could track down a good deal of these instincts and learn how to interact with them. Or, find ways to invoke the good ones that over power the bad animalistic instincts a person is acting or reacting with.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Original_Intent »

isaacs2066 wrote:
Original_Intent wrote:I thought the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was pretty legit.


Let me get this straight.

Porn, (*something not even addressed in the scriptures) will lead to possession but watching a movie basically made to turn possession into an entertaining plot line won't...?

(*that part in matthew is wrongly translated from the greek. Jesus was reminding them that not only is adultery a sin but so was coveting another mans wife)
If you've seen the movie, please elaborate.
If you haven't seen the movie, I'd recommend that you not comment on what you know nothing about.

I didn't recommend the movie. I said I felt like it was legit. Let me expand on that. I think it is probably an accurate depiction of how a good person could be possessed. Serving my mission in japan there is a folktale that I think also is demonstrative.

A man had his eyes opened to the spiritual plane. First he saw a city, with one puny demon in the entire city. "What a righteous city!" he exclaimed.

Then he was shown a disheveled old man surrounded by seven powerful demons. "What a wicked man that must be!" he thought.

(I don't remember the details but there was another being that was responsible for him being able to see the spiritual realm) and he explained "The wicked city only needed one weak little devil to keep all of the inhabitants behaving evilly, but the seven powerful demons could not divert the single old man from his course."

I thought this was portrayed in the Exorcism of Emily Rose, I didn't feel that it was a cheap thrill movie or one that a person should watch lightly. It is supposedly based on actual events, and I tend to believe that sure some things were exaggerated or dramatized, yeah I think it could and does happen that way. Which is why I made the comment I did.

So again, if you have watched it, please elaborate your concern.
If you haven't, well, sharing your opinion on what you have no knowledge of doesn't make a lot of sense.

isaacs2066
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by isaacs2066 »

Original_Intent wrote:
isaacs2066 wrote:
Original_Intent wrote:I thought the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was pretty legit.


Let me get this straight.

Porn, (*something not even addressed in the scriptures) will lead to possession but watching a movie basically made to turn possession into an entertaining plot line won't...?

(*that part in matthew is wrongly translated from the greek. Jesus was reminding them that not only is adultery a sin but so was coveting another mans wife)
If you've seen the movie, please elaborate.
If you haven't seen the movie, I'd recommend that you not comment on what you know nothing about.

I didn't recommend the movie. I said I felt like it was legit. Let me expand on that. I think it is probably an accurate depiction of how a good person could be possessed. Serving my mission in japan there is a folktale that I think also is demonstrative.

A man had his eyes opened to the spiritual plane. First he saw a city, with one puny demon in the entire city. "What a righteous city!" he exclaimed.

Then he was shown a disheveled old man surrounded by seven powerful demons. "What a wicked man that must be!" he thought.

(I don't remember the details but there was another being that was responsible for him being able to see the spiritual realm) and he explained "The wicked city only needed one weak little devil to keep all of the inhabitants behaving evilly, but the seven powerful demons could not divert the single old man from his course."

I thought this was portrayed in the Exorcism of Emily Rose, I didn't feel that it was a cheap thrill movie or one that a person should watch lightly. It is supposedly based on actual events, and I tend to believe that sure some things were exaggerated or dramatized, yeah I think it could and does happen that way. Which is why I made the comment I did.

So again, if you have watched it, please elaborate your concern.
If you haven't, well, sharing your opinion on what you have no knowledge of doesn't make a lot of sense.


Fair enough.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Rose Garden »

Original_Intent wrote:
isaacs2066 wrote:
Original_Intent wrote:I thought the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was pretty legit.


Let me get this straight.

Porn, (*something not even addressed in the scriptures) will lead to possession but watching a movie basically made to turn possession into an entertaining plot line won't...?

(*that part in matthew is wrongly translated from the greek. Jesus was reminding them that not only is adultery a sin but so was coveting another mans wife)
If you've seen the movie, please elaborate.
If you haven't seen the movie, I'd recommend that you not comment on what you know nothing about.

I didn't recommend the movie. I said I felt like it was legit. Let me expand on that. I think it is probably an accurate depiction of how a good person could be possessed. Serving my mission in japan there is a folktale that I think also is demonstrative.

A man had his eyes opened to the spiritual plane. First he saw a city, with one puny demon in the entire city. "What a righteous city!" he exclaimed.

Then he was shown a disheveled old man surrounded by seven powerful demons. "What a wicked man that must be!" he thought.

(I don't remember the details but there was another being that was responsible for him being able to see the spiritual realm) and he explained "The wicked city only needed one weak little devil to keep all of the inhabitants behaving evilly, but the seven powerful demons could not divert the single old man from his course."

I thought this was portrayed in the Exorcism of Emily Rose, I didn't feel that it was a cheap thrill movie or one that a person should watch lightly. It is supposedly based on actual events, and I tend to believe that sure some things were exaggerated or dramatized, yeah I think it could and does happen that way. Which is why I made the comment I did.

So again, if you have watched it, please elaborate your concern.
If you haven't, well, sharing your opinion on what you have no knowledge of doesn't make a lot of sense.
That is a principle that we all need to understand in this world. Those who are "better" aren't always those who are the smartest, richest, fastest, or so forth. It's those who try the hardest. And that can be the exact opposite of what it looks like.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Thinker »

ChristopherABrown wrote:...When things effecting behavior are termed "spirits", there is a strong temptation to use historical labels applied to describe the behaviors rather than the pragmatic recognition that they are internal events triggered by some perception.

If psychology was not so controlled by church and state, it could track down a good deal of these instincts and learn how to interact with them. Or, find ways to invoke the good ones that over power the bad animalistic instincts a person is acting or reacting with.
Interesting take.
If I understand you correctly, you believe that spiritual experiences are strictly "internal events."
I would agree that they are mostly internal processes and I'd even agree that there are physiological processes that mingle with mental/emotional processes (esp. endocrine system), but I believe we are very susceptible to external stimuli (as children especially, and somewhat as we mature and adapt to changes).

Also, would you suggest somehow tapping into subconscious processes (especially dream analysis) to understand and deal with those "instincts"? Or what else would you suggest?

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by ChristopherABrown »

Thinker wrote:
ChristopherABrown wrote:...When things effecting behavior are termed "spirits", there is a strong temptation to use historical labels applied to describe the behaviors rather than the pragmatic recognition that they are internal events triggered by some perception.

If psychology was not so controlled by church and state, it could track down a good deal of these instincts and learn how to interact with them. Or, find ways to invoke the good ones that over power the bad animalistic instincts a person is acting or reacting with.
Interesting take.
If I understand you correctly, you believe that spiritual experiences are strictly "internal events."
I would agree that they are mostly internal processes and I'd even agree that there are physiological processes that mingle with mental/emotional processes (esp. endocrine system), but I believe we are very susceptible to external stimuli (as children especially, and somewhat as we mature and adapt to changes).

Also, would you suggest somehow tapping into subconscious processes (especially dream analysis) to understand and deal with those "instincts"? Or what else would you suggest?
Your position with "internal events" tempered with the word "mostly" is a quality position. It allows for a degree of spiritual sharing, referring to "dream state sharing", which can also trigger instincts, and perhaps even more.

Psychology is currently stuck in a morass of denial and restriction. If that were to change, I can show that people can be induced to source OTHER instincts and change fairly radically within the epigenetic ranges or limits that are natural. Referring to both time and extent of instinctual breadth behaviors can take. When psychology is unburdened, we will find transformations that can be guided by love and understanding to always find a better place to live from and for.

In order to unburden psychology, we will have to unify within our lawful and peaceful revolution and first see the truths shared that have been hidden from us so long we are afraid of them, when there is no reason for fear.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Joel »

This looks like a interesting documentary to watch with the lights off with a bunch of believers



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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Merriner »

Of course there are devils and unclean spirits. Devils never lived on the earth in a body, and unclean spirits lived bad to horrible lives and are now disembodied and are under Satans control and power to buffet them. We live in a day when there are lots of people who say that believing in them is for an older less enlightened time. Those people say that since then we have come a long way in science, physiology and psychology, and that we don't need to subcribe to such things anymore. This is false doctrine. True science and true religion don't contradict one another. The philosophies of men aren't going to explain the existence of these beings away. When we choose not to believe in them, they rejoice, because this further shrouds them in their anonymity. Throw out the so called "enlightenment" in whatever forms it takes, or throw out the religion. You choose. You can't have it both ways. Those who are endowed, know what Satan claims he and the spirits that follow him will do. Some disembodied spirits who once lived on the earth and are still under Satans power can still be taught, repent and be redeemed from Satans power and find peace and await the judgement. This is part of the war going on on the other side of the veil. Since hell is a place where devils dwell, the telestial world is currently a hell. I've read accounts of people who were afflicted and were shown their tormentors in vision and afterwards felt sorry for them and had the opportunity to teach them and declare forgiveness and redemption through Christ after which those Spirits found peace and were free from the power Satan had on them. Also learned that familiar spirits are "family" spirits or ancestors that lived in your family line who suffered terrible things in life or did horrible things and are under Satans power to afflict and seek the destruction of those who come in that family line. Devils and unclean spirits can cause physical/bodily afflictions. Consecrated oil is consecrated for the healing of the sick and the delivering of the afflicted. There is no reason to be afraid of devils and unclean spirits and talking about them doesn't bring them around. On the contrary, when we shine light on them and unveil their hiding place, they loose their anonymity and they feel vulnerable. Especially when they know a priesthood holder is not afraid or timid about using his priesthood power to cast them out and bind them in the spirit world.

watchthewatchers
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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by watchthewatchers »

There were all kinds of demonic possessions back in the day. When that was the default catch-all "diagnosis" when they couldn't figure out any other diagnosis. Also during times when recording and data collecting was more word of mouth and community gossip than anything else. Especially when people want to make themselves appear larger than life and get some attention because they heard that this one time..........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonic_p ... able_cases

Specifically on Anneliese Michel, aka The Exorcism of Emily Rose, the people involved ended up effectively killing her because of their religious infused paranoia. The case has been labelled as a misidentification of mental illness, negligence, abuse, and RELIGIOUS HYSTERIA.

Most likely, demonic possession is a medical condition known as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. At one time, religious hysteria killed cats because they were the spirits of the devil trying to possess people. And the world got to enjoy bubonic plagues killing several hundred million people. Let's not forget the witches that were to blame, too. :roll: It took medicine and technology a long time to debunk all that hysteria. Just give it some time with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

One thing that is known without question is that Hollywood won't hesitate to make a buck off of any good story by blowing it out of proportion as much as they can get away with.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by XEmilyX »

yes people get possessed by spirits.
When you break commandments or do drugs or look at pornography you open yourself up to having spirits attack and come into you.
How often are people possessed?
Most people actually have bad spirits within them. Whether from past or continuing situations that let them in. Which is why it's important to get a blessing to cast them out.
I was a good latter day saint, and even I had to have bad spirits cast out. They even bound my tongue when we were casting them away.
There's bad spirits in my family members, I can tell because I can hear them. They spoke to me while I was hugging my family. It was creepy. I wish my family would believe they have to get a blessing to cast out, it's awkward hugging them.

The more you think the bad spirits ideas and feelings and thoughts are yours, the more power they have over you.

I'm pretty sure all murderers are possessed by evil spirits and have become slaves to the evil beings appetites.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by eddie »

"The power to resist Satan may be stronger than we realize. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 181).

He also stated, “Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed” (History of the Church, 4:576). So Satan and his angels are not all-powerful. One of Satan’s approaches is to persuade a person who has transgressed that there is no hope of forgiveness. But there is always hope. Most sins, no matter how grievous, may be repented of if the desire is sincere enough.

Satan has had great success with this gullible generation. As a consequence, literally hosts of people have been victimized by him and his angels. There is, however, an ample shield against the power of Lucifer and his hosts. This protection lies in the spirit of discernment through the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift comes undeviatingly by personal revelation to those who strive to obey the commandments of the Lord and to follow the counsel of the living prophets."

James E. Faust

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Sasquatch »

I believe demonic possession, or at least demonic influence (rather than outright control of someone), has occurred ever since Satan and his followers learned how to affect people in fleshly tabernacles. There's absolutely no reason to assume that possession was exclusive to Christ's era, or scriptural times, it has likely occurred ever since then and will continue until Christ returns.

One individual I suspect was under demonic influence was Ivan IV the Terrible. He was probably one of the most cruel individuals ever born: he started off with animal torture, graduated to gang rapes and beatings as a teenager, and then as tsar, indulged in frequent attacks and murders, culminating with the organized massacre of Novgorod which he personally led. He also struck his oldest son and heir dead in a fit of rage. But, he also alternately went into deep remorse and fits of wailing, forming a dent in his forehead from beating his head against the floor.

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Re: Do People Get Possessed by Evil Spirits?

Post by Ratbag »

watchthewatchers wrote: November 21st, 2017, 12:06 am

Specifically on Anneliese Michel, aka The Exorcism of Emily Rose, the people involved ended up effectively killing her because of their religious infused paranoia. The case has been labelled as a misidentification of mental illness, negligence, abuse, and RELIGIOUS HYSTERIA.

Most likely, demonic possession is a medical condition known as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. At one time, religious hysteria killed cats because they were the spirits of the devil trying to possess people. And the world got to enjoy bubonic plagues killing several hundred million people. Let's not forget the witches that were to blame, too. :roll: It took medicine and technology a long time to debunk all that hysteria. Just give it some time with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

One thing that is known without question is that Hollywood won't hesitate to make a buck off of any good story by blowing it out of proportion as much as they can get away with.
This is good wisdom of the world, secular science thinking that bears no resemblance to what has been taught by the Church. I'll believe what has been taught by the Church over so-called "medical science." Here is what is included in the LDS Bible dictionary on the subject. "Since the devil and his premortal angels have no physical body of flesh and bones, they often seek to possess the bodies of mortal beings." (Bible Dictionary, Devil) There's a paper you should read, "Possession by Devils and Unclean Spirits." Download it here: http://www.7witnesses.com/uploads/3/8/9 ... espie_.pdf

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