Demons, Mayhem, and Other Fun Party Gifts

I have always held to the idea coined by Salman Rushdie that "the argument propels us forward." If open minded, this process has the ability to catapult us into new dimensions when discussing religion or the paranormal. Rarely can you find mention of one without the other. Especially on the subject of negative haunts. I have often come to the table with a firm grasp of persuasion only to be "propelled" to another avenue of thought. Ponderings have led me to rethink my positions and my personality type will chew on something for weeks until it makes since. If I can turn something over in my mind and find a spot in the puzzle where that piece fits I will keep it. If I can’t find a spot for the piece, but it’s still intriguing, I will store it for future reference. If the piece I’ve encountered doesn’t remotely fit any current project I discard it. But who’s to say that further down the road what I’ve discarded won’t become viable? As I have been painfully reminded by a recent betrayal, "things change." For a healthy survival evolution of thought is a necessary thing and picking up discarded ideas at times may be necessary.

Recently I was given the position of Negative Entities Research Specialist with Southern Ohio Paranormal Research. I’m not sure if they offered this to me because my negative attitude which goes ugly early, or that it’s obvious I’m attracted to the darker elements more so than shiny happy people or angels for that manner. To be honest I requested the position in the attempt to equip and prepare myself and the team for what I felt through intuition was coming to challenge us; but never dreamed where it would lead. I decided to take an all encompassing approach. I’ve never been a fan of the status quo and I’ve read all the current mainstream books on the subject that seem more sensational than fact. I started studying different cultures and religions for their take on demons and negative entities. I was surprised by the similarities as well as the differences.

As a seeker I try to experience as many scenarios as possible to empathetically wrap my mind around what others feel, think, and believe. I have found that when one rock is overturned there is another that demands attention. To scratch the surface on what I’ve found, let’s start with the definition of demons (negative entities) starting with the older school of thought and working our way forward within the big three of religions. These are limited to time and attention span and by no means authoritative or exhaustive.

"According to Hinduism, that has no timeline and is considered the oldest among religions, demons are beings that currently reap the fruits of their bad karma acquired in previous lives. However, the bad things they do are not arbitrary, as the law of karma makes sure that the humans afflicted by demons are justly punished for their own bad deeds performed in previous lives. Therefore, from a global point of view the demons’ bad deeds must be seen as necessary in balancing karma. Existence as a demon is limited, and eventually there is reincarnation back into human form and henceforth a new chance given to attain liberation."(Italics mine)

This is a beautiful ebb and flow belief in my opinion. What better way to work out our own salvation or enlightenment than through a process such as this? Interesting enough this belief is shared among indigenous tribes throughout the world with varying adaptations contingent upon local customs and mythology.

Buddhist thought takes the above a step further since Buddha rejected the basic tenets of Hinduism his influence gives a deeper reflective perception. In Buddhism Evil Influences actually hinder cultivation. These can take an infinite number of forms, including evil beings or hallucinations, disease and death, as well as the three poisons of greed, anger and delusion which are also equated to demons, as they disturb the mind. No wonder intellectuals gravitate towards Buddhism because much of the reality and ills are merely adaptations in the mind. "The Self-Nature has been described in Mahayana sutras as a house full of gold and jewelry. To preserve the riches, i.e., to keep the mind calm, empty and still, we should shut the doors to the three thieves of greed, anger and delusion. Letting the mind wander opens the house to "demons," that is, hallucinations and harm. Thus, Zen practitioners are taught that, while in meditation, "Encountering demons, kill the demons, encountering Buddha, kill the Buddha." Both demons and Buddha are mind-made, Mind-Only."

Now instead of becoming or being tormented by an entity that is designed to "propel us forward" we see that all is perception. I can imagine many ardent debunkers are gleefully jumping up and down for I have seen many attempts to explain away in ten minutes what an individual has been experiencing for ten years as a figment of their imagination. In some cases it might be true, in others….who knows?



Now we come to the last of the big three and youngest, Christianity. Here we have a thorough compilation of demons with names and duties.


Species of Demons, as Described by Alphonse de Spina (1467)


Fates, who alter destiny

Poltergeists, who cause mischief

Incubi and Succubus, who stimulate lust and perversion

Marching Hordes, who bring about war

Familiars, who assist witches

Nightmares, who disturb sleep through bad dreams

Demons formed from Human Semen

Disguised Demons

Demons who Assail the Saintly

Demons who Instigate Witchcraft

According to Peter Binsfield, a Jesuit, 1589, the correspondence of Demons to the Seven Deadly Sins

1. Lucifer – Pride

2. Mammon – Avarice

3. Asmodeus – Lust

4. Satan – Anger

5. Beelzebub – Gluttony

6. Leviathan – Envy

7. Belhegor Vanity & Sloth

(Source: Comparative Religion Online)

To sum it up in a nut shell is the Catholic Church Statement on Fallen Angels (Demons)

"These beings, because of pride, did not return God’s love. God did not destroy them, but permits them a limited scope of activity. Their condition is permanent for no creature can turn away from the perfect good of the beatific vision once he has come to enjoy it, and no additional reflection could change the mind of a purely spiritual being who has turned away." (Source: Catholic Online – Angels)

What is that "limited scope of activity" designed to do? This definition perhaps influenced by and lends some credence to the Hindu and Buddhist thought. You can see the evolution of thought concerning these entities. It depends on the time, culture, location, and motivation. Pretty interesting stuff and I didn’t even list the names of the 35 other demons the Christian Church recognizes. The most famous among them seems to be chasing Ryan Buell, of Paranormal State, even though Elfie, the Occult Specialists, never heard of it.

Most of what I read in Christian texts seems to have been created to control people by using their own instincts to manipulate guilt. A guilty person is more compliant than a happy one. Just my opinion, but how can a list compiled in 1467 have such an impact even influencing modern day thought? There is such a fascination with Demonology right now and in my opinion it borders on the fanatical. We need to look to who would benefit and who was the driving current cultural influence at the time these demons were named and dubbed the root of all man’s problems. The indigenous tribes I spoke of earlier are guilty as well and seem to have the same motives of influence to guide and direct their society. If we took into account all that Satan is personally responsible for daily throughout the world you would think he was omnipresent as well. I’m not trying to throw stones I’m just putting on the table what I dug up in the garden.

But what are we to do with all these different beliefs and how does it help those who believe they are affected or possessed by an actual demon? I don’t believe we can convince them otherwise any more than we can tell them definitively what is happening to them. There are those that have many years of experience in this field that would tell me I’m dead wrong, but with all do respect when do we become authorities on a realm that has yet to be proven? Do we become unsympathetic to a client’s claims and simply say it’s all in your mind? Do we tell them they’re crazy? Many references in the bible of demon possessed people with ailments such as epilepsy and schizophrenia can be treated successfully by medical practitioners today because of the evolution of thought. Shouldn’t we hold that door of possibilities open when dealing with the paranormal? Is it possible that these negative intrusions are a direct result of actions instigated by the individual and they’re "reaping the whirlwind?" We don’t know and anything we conclude has to be considered an opinion or hypothesis. Explanations and rationalizations are a dime a dozen, but definitive proof is fleeting.

What you believe can affect you and may have an extreme influence on the emotional and physical well being. I heard on a TV show recently that 60% of recovery in terminally ill patients is dependant on a positive attitude. "Belief is a dangerous thing" as one friend stated or it can be a beautiful thing when applied with the right motives and intentions. You are what you believe. Behavior shapes your psyche as well as the other way around. There’s still the possibility of having good initiative and poor judgment (i.e., Heaven’s Gate) and there in lies the crux of the situation when making a determination.

In speaking with clergy, spiritualists, and shaman I have found a common thread linking the individual being helped with the outcome of cleansing rituals and lasting results. It seems all is dependent on whether they believe, stop the practices that opened them up to unhealthy influences, and adhere to a more positive life style. Very simplistic but is it unreasonable to think that we are the ones that need to claim our own space whether in our minds or in our homes?

Recently a self proclaimed shaman visiting my home told a Christian friend that evoking the name of Jesus Christ and burying blessed metals at the corners of the property does nothing to expel a negative force yet he spits organic flower water on a sword to purify it before swinging it wildly to sever the ties of negative entities. I still can see the cuts marks in my ceiling. How can ritual or belief be right and not the other and who decides?

I once saw a sign on a church that said, "Come and expect a miracle." I found it curious that it didn’t say, "Spontaneous miracles happen randomly inside." It seems that even miracles need our cooperation of expectancy …..or do they? Jesus himself told people it was their belief or faith that healed them. He never said I have healed you only I am willing. I’m not sure what faith or belief I have but I do believe and have faith that I’m no Specialist in anything. I know now that I know nothing and the more I learn the more I realize how much I have to unlearn.

Mega Mystery

This is a follow up to the blog where I bravely resisted the Super Mega-Church's Marketing Ploy to ensnare me with Kumbaya Coffee. I've always had an inquiring mind and enjoy reading what influences and molds people's visions. For example we know the influence Nietzsche had on Hitler and how Gandhi's non-violent demonstrations influenced Martin Luther King, Jr. Polar opposites to be sure, but each were influenced immensely by what fueled their vision and the same can be seen in the religious community. A Cincinnati Bible College student will have a vastly different perspective from a Church of England seminary graduate. So it's fair to assume that what you know decides how you grow. So, I pulled up Crossroads.net and to my surprise there wasn't one sentence about the leadership, who they are, or their qualifications. I saw a lot of hip feel good rhetoric, but I know from experience that corporations (and churches are incorporated) must disclose to the general public key officials, or fall guys, when the inevitable law suit occurs. The only exceptions to this are government contracted bids. Surely a "spiritual" institution is different than Halliburton even though they may employee the same amount of people?

Below are my investigative journalistic skills at work to uncover the plot by "The Man" to turn us into coffee drinking, musically gyrating "sheeple" that never question authority.

-----Original Message-----
From: Crossroads [mailto:postmaster@crossroads.net]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 12:52 PM
To: generalmailbox
Subject: Message from Crossroads.net


Message regarding: General Questions

Message sent from: Don Franklin
Email Address: *&%$@yahoo.com
Message:
We visited for the first time this past Sunday and we liked what we saw. I find it odd that I can't find anything anywhere on the web page about the leadership. Am I missing something? It would be nice to know whom I'm entrusting my family's spiritual development to. Don


----- Original Message ----
From: "Russell, David"
To: *&%$@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2008 2:34:00 PM
Subject: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads

Hello Don,

We're glad that you and your family enjoy your experience at Crossroads.

In order to best answer your question, I'd love to know more about how you are defining leadership. Are you seeking to understand more about our Senior Pastor or something other than this? A huge foundational piece of Crossroads ties to the number of volunteers we have serving make everything happen here. In our Kids-- Club area, for example, the vast majority of folks we have teaching, engaging and caring for the kids are volunteers. I'd love to help you and ensure your questions are answered.

I'll also point you to the What We Believe piece we have at our Information Center and on the web. This can help provide some clarity about who we are and what we believe.

Excited to help. Have a great week.

David

David Russell
Director of First Impressions

-----Original Message-----
From: Don & Rosie Franklin [mailto:*&%$@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:22 AM
To: Russell, David
Subject: Re: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads

Well, thanks. My question is still unanswered. Typically when you visit a church there are a number of ways to find out who's who. The web being an informative way to convey this, many churches use this catalyst as an opportunity to tell about their senior pastor, associate pastors and so on. Some sites even list the elders. This terminology may be too traditional for such a hip place but I found it odd that nothing is mentioned about anyone. That sends up a red flag to me. Why hide the major players? Perhaps I'm missing the innovative think tank Zen of "It's about the people, not us" type of contemporary enlightenment.

You may have an enormous amount of volunteers, as you mentioned, but every incorporated body has a single source of responsibility. As Reagan said, "Trust, but verify."

Thanks for the reply, I guess.

----- Original Message ----
From: "Russell, David"
To: Don & Rosie Franklin <*&%$@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 4:16:44 PM
Subject: RE: Response to a recent question you submitted to Crossroads


Don,

Thank you for your response.

I'm sure you've discovered that we do very few things like a traditional church. This is intentional.

We've made intentional decisions to not promote individuals. As Brian said this weekend, we're all normal people who feel called to what God is going in our community.

We do have a Spiritual Board of Directors who has responsibility and ultimate authority over the strategic vision of Crossroads (akin to 'Elders').

Our Senior Pastor is in submission to this Board of Directors, as well.

There's nothing hidden here, if we highlighted all the major players at Crossroads, the content stream would be vast and varied and would probably include more volunteers than staff. That's just who we are and how we have moved over the past twelve years.

Thanks again for checking us out.


Blessings,

David
David Russell

Director of First Impressions
Phone: (513) 731-7400 x576

David was very kind in his responses, but suspiciously still vague. I still don't know shit from shinola about the leadership. The last time my questions were thwarted concerning a spiritual leader was when I was accosted by followers of this guy



Who knew when you questioned whether aliens in a volcano are really responsible for all bad things that you would be ostracized? Ah, Ron, but what might have been? Back to the issue at hand, thank goodness for the power of Google. I was able to secure a photo of the culprits responsible for the enjoyment of over 2,000 members during four services every Sunday.



Brian Tome Sr. (left), pastor of Community Crossroads Church, church ministry development director Cyndi King (center), and associate pastor Brian Wells. Not exactly the Axis of Evil, but rumor has it that Brian was a used car salesman from Cleveland. Can anything good come from Cleveland?


I decided to dig deeper and interview a former member with direct ties to the leadership in question. The individual shall remain anonymous, but Marty said it's the best Christian nightclub experience he's ever been a part of. He also said that you can take part in exotic mission trips to places like India where you can see poor starving people in their nature habitat and build hospitals that are shut down after the American volunteers leave for lack of funding.


This rained on my parade a little, but I won't be deterred from seeking spiritual development while enjoying premium free trade coffee and watching relevant movie clips like Jerry Maguire mixed with scripture. I never imagined a connection could be made from a minor prophet of Israel such as Malachi and a money hungry agent like Maguire, but apparently the message is the same, "Show Me the Money!"