Demonology
Demonology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Demonology (disambiguation).
[show]Part of a series of articles on the paranormal
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons.[1] It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods.[2] It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent beings of all kinds. The original sense of "demon", from the time of Homer onward, was a benevolent being,[3] but in English the name now holds connotations of malevolence. (In order to keep the distinction, when referring to the word in its original Greek meaning English uses the spelling "Daemon" or "Daimon".)
Demons, when regarded as spirits, may belong to either of the classes of spirits recognized by primitive animism;[4] that is to say, they may be human, or non-human, separable souls, or discarnate spirits which have never inhabited a body. A sharp distinction is often drawn between these two classes, notably by the Melanesians, several African groups, and others; the Arab jinn, for example, are not reducible to modified human souls; at the same time these classes are frequently conceived as producing identical results, e.g. diseases.[2][3]
The word demonology is from Greek δαίμooν, daimōn, "divinity, divine power, god";[5] and -λογία, -logia.
Contents [hide]
1 Prevalence of demons
2 Character of the spiritual world
3 Types
3.1 Ancient Near East
3.2 Judaism
3.3 Christianity
3.4 Islam
3.5 Buddhism
3.6 Hinduism
3.7 Occult
3.8 Zoroastrianism
3.9 Satanism
4 See also
5 References
6 Bibliography
7 External links
Prevalence of demons[edit]
"Nightmare", 1800, by Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
According to some societies, all the affairs of life are supposed to be under the control of spirits, each ruling a certain "element" or even object, and themselves in subjection to a greater spirit.[6]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Demonology (disambiguation).
[show]Part of a series of articles on the paranormal
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons.[1] It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods.[2] It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent beings of all kinds. The original sense of "demon", from the time of Homer onward, was a benevolent being,[3] but in English the name now holds connotations of malevolence. (In order to keep the distinction, when referring to the word in its original Greek meaning English uses the spelling "Daemon" or "Daimon".)
Demons, when regarded as spirits, may belong to either of the classes of spirits recognized by primitive animism;[4] that is to say, they may be human, or non-human, separable souls, or discarnate spirits which have never inhabited a body. A sharp distinction is often drawn between these two classes, notably by the Melanesians, several African groups, and others; the Arab jinn, for example, are not reducible to modified human souls; at the same time these classes are frequently conceived as producing identical results, e.g. diseases.[2][3]
The word demonology is from Greek δαίμooν, daimōn, "divinity, divine power, god";[5] and -λογία, -logia.
Contents [hide]
1 Prevalence of demons
2 Character of the spiritual world
3 Types
3.1 Ancient Near East
3.2 Judaism
3.3 Christianity
3.4 Islam
3.5 Buddhism
3.6 Hinduism
3.7 Occult
3.8 Zoroastrianism
3.9 Satanism
4 See also
5 References
6 Bibliography
7 External links
Prevalence of demons[edit]
"Nightmare", 1800, by Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard
According to some societies, all the affairs of life are supposed to be under the control of spirits, each ruling a certain "element" or even object, and themselves in subjection to a greater spirit.[6]
References: ^ a b Demonology at the Online Encyclopedia, Originally appearing in Volume V08, Page 10 of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica ^ Cumont, Franz (1911), The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism, Chapter VI: Persia, p ^ Frazer, Sir James George (1922), The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion, Chapter 46, "The Corn-Mother in Many Lands," at The University of Adelaide Library ^ Greem, Eda (c ^ A. Orlov, Dark Mirrors: Azazel and Satanael in Early Jewish Demonology (Albany, SUNY, 2011) 6. ^ A. Orlov, Dark Mirrors: Azazel and Satanael in Early Jewish Demonology (Albany, SUNY, 2011) 7. ^ Mack, Carol K., Mack, Dinah (1998), A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits, p. XXXIII, New York: Henry Holt and Co., ISBN 0-8050-6270-X ^ Zoroastrianism at net.bible.org ^ Jahanian, Daryoush, M.D., "The Zoroastrian-Biblical Connections," at meta-religion.com ^ Franck, Adolphe (1843), translated by Sossnitz, I ^ Mathers, S.L. McGregor (Translation from Latin - 1912), Kabbala Denudata: The Kabbala Unveiled, Introduction, at sacred-texts.com ^ "The Afterlife: Ancient Christian Beliefs" ^ Davidson, Gustav (1967), A Dictionary of Angels, Including The Fallen Angels, p. 176, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-19757 ^ Demonology at jewishencyclopedia.com Rémy, Nicholas (1974). Demonolatry. University Books. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.