Demonology and the Paranormal Pandemic

During the past several decades we have seen a powerful renewal of interest in the paranormal. At this time in history, you can turn on your television to any number of networks and there is a chance you will see some show about a paranormal team investigating a haunting. With this phenomena, we are also seeing a renewed interest in the demonic and Demonology. Individuals such as Fr. Amorth, Lorain Warren, Adam Blai, and John Zaffis have been going about the world and appearing on television shows, speaking at conferences, creating websites, and publishing books concerning the role of the demonic in the paranormal field. With this renewed fascination with the paranormal, we are now seeing an influx of people with questions or concerns about the demonic or desiring to work in a field such as Demonology.

Why the influx?

Why are people drawn to the topic of demons then? Maybe it is morbid curiosity. Maybe it is fear. Maybe it is a genuine quest for knowledge and the individual simply desires to learn more about the topic due to religious/spiritual beliefs. I am not saying this is a bad thing, but I am also aware of how glamorous the paranormal field looks these days. When something becomes glamorous, people are comfortable discussing it; the more it is discussed, the more socially accepted it becomes. In any field that suddenly gets a surge of interest, the field must deal with a much broader and diverse group of people. Because of this paranormal groups are now going to see an increase in clients that are fearful of demonic entities in their lives. Some cases may yield useful information and research on the topic of the paranormal. Other cases will simply show that many clients merely suffer from anxiety, neurological disorders, medication issues, noisy homes, and fear cages (an enclosed area with high EMF levels that causes feelings of fear, paranoia, and anxiety). Some clients may need to cut the scary movies out of their library of films. With all these factors, we will continue to see more people coming forward with fears and questions concerning the demonic and malevolent hauntings.

Just as there are people worried about the demonic, there is the other side of the coin which covers the group of people interested in becoming demonologists. Demonology is a complex field that is filled with various religious perspectives, mythology, and even outright lies/misinformation. Sifting through all of this is beneficial. But, when it comes to matters of the spiritual, we are looking at unknowns. There are doctrinal stances and “demonologies” from many religions and spiritual philosophies. Some religions do not have a belief in evil spirits, but rather believe in negative spirits that serve a vital purpose in the complex machine that is reality.

Are these various views all that different? Simply put, yes they are. We have a tendency over here in the Western World to get too universal on these matters. Because of this, we end up with a zoo without cages. Without cages, we see mass confusion and worry. Without distinction between the Demonologies of different faiths, we take away the uniqueness of that particular faith system. Some might say that universalism is a good thing because people should think outside of their religious bubble, and by doing so it promotes a higher universal consciousness of spirituality. Some honestly believe all faith systems are equal and true in their own way. That is fine if that is your approach. But, we as professionals need to respect the personal religious views of our clients. Faith is a powerful and meaningful reality for many. Faith is ultimately at the core of any spiritual matter and Demonology deals primarily with the spiritual realm, therefore we need to operate with care concerning those beliefs.

Training

How then does one get formal training in paranormal studies or Demonology? The reality of this is that there are only a few legit Demonologists in this country and they are trained by the Vatican or other Demonologists. The Roman Catholic Church is the only branch of Christianity that has Clergy and select individuals specifically assigned for dealing with demonic matters. With that in mind, even if you were to go as far as to join the Priesthood, your odds of getting into the field and becoming formally trained are slim. Priests are hand selected by their Bishops to under-go the training for exorcism and demonology. Because of this, only few of the many Priests from around the world are ever selected for this line of work. With this information we can see that the vast majority of us will never become legitimate exorcists or Demonologists. Of course there is the alternate route of self proclamation, which is the category a vast number of Demonologists fall under. Whether or not they are as qualified as a formally trained Demonologist is up to the client and is evident in the work history of the Demonologist.

Self proclaimed or formally trained aside, we still need to deal with the fact that many people are still interested in this field. Since a degree in Demonology is out of the question for most, many people go looking around for small workshops, or they go out and buy books hoping to gain a greater insight into the field. Often times this simply confuses the individual even further. I know that even in my personal library, the books on Demonology can vary depending upon the author and the author’s spiritual point of view. This is one thing that many people tend to overlook when they are out buying books on the topic of demons. As I have mentioned throughout this article, views vary. It is to be expected that your view and the author’s view could, or eventually will, be in conflict. This is a good thing. Do not take every word as gold and truth in this field. There are no absolutes aside from absolutely knowing that we know very little. Take the time to resolve that conflict, keep studying, discerning, don’t push it aside, and in time you will see where you stand in the field. With this in mind, I urge readers who are interested to go out and buy books, research online, and start to delve into dialogue with others. Make a point of understanding where the views in these books come from. Some authors are kind enough to give credit where it is due, some do not and occasionally the information is wrong either way. Look up the source and check it against what the author is saying. Find the religious/spiritual source of that ritual or practice the author speaks of. Find out why it is used rather than simply assuming it is just one more form of cleansing a home or healing a person to put in your arsenal. Do not just buy books on the topic “willy-nilly” either. Read the back covers and research the authors. See what their experience and/or training is like. Look at the other books they have written. Google the author and see what their field work is like. There are a lot of people writing on the paranormal these days, and some are hoping to cash in on people’s fears and interests.

For the people truly interested in delving deeper into this field, get some formal education. You more than likely will not find a school with a Demonology program. (I have yet to find one.) But, you can find a school with a Religion program with a strong Liberal Arts foundation. Many people shudder at the idea, but Religion goes beyond Christianity. And with the Liberal Arts program, you will get some education in the field of psychology, philosophy, and sociology which are all crucial to any work in the paranormal field. Perhaps you could double major or hold another area as a minor. I know in my formal education as a Religion Major/Philosophy Minor, I received invaluable teaching on subjects ranging from atheism to universalism. I learned more about my own personal religion as well as the beliefs of many other cultures. Demonology is a branch of religious and spiritual study. With this in mind, we must be educated on the beliefs of others around us. Demonologists work in a field with people of all faiths. With an understanding of different belief systems, we can find the best way to assist clients in their time of need or find someone who is equipped to do so. Lastly, be wary of workshops or programs that claim to offer certificates or degrees that are not from an accredited source or institution. There is no program that runs for a night or a week that can come close to fully training you in any field, nor should you pay for a piece of paper that has no value.

Field Techniques

What then does a Demonologist actually do? The purpose of a Demonologist is to determine if a haunting is demonic or malevolent in nature. That sounds simple enough, but simplicity is never a reality in this field. The Demonologist has the task of reviewing evidence, taking down client and eyewitness accounts, assisting with investigations, and performing various rituals/spiritual tests (reactions towards sacred ceremonies or blessed objects, etc.) in order to determine whether or not the clients or their home are undergoing demonic oppression/affliction. This is all on top of intense study of demonic behavior and tactics from various belief systems. It is a complex game of connect the dots that has little room for error. Some cases will be more obvious than others, but that doesn’t make the cases any less complicated or less dangerous. In the end, our job as Demonologists is to help get the clients the assistance they need whether it is spiritual or medical.

Some in the field of Demonology take it upon themselves to not only assess cases but to also take on an active role in removing entities from a home or client. This of course is dangerous territory. Studying the topic of exorcism is no replacement for field training under the careful guidance of an older and more experienced individual in the field. Many don’t realize the risk of retaliation is always a reality and the further a Demonologist becomes involved in the field, the greater the risk of harm becomes. Furthermore, few Demonologists have an insurance policy or a team of lawyers at their disposal to take care of them in the event that something bad happens during a cleansing or exorcism. A waiver of liability is always a must, but that doesn’t fully protect an individual from lawsuits.

Some might ask if the role of a Demonologist is even necessary. This is dependent upon whether or not one believes in evil spirits to begin with. This is the ultimate difficulty we run into in the field of Demonology. Demonology is the study of evil or malevolent spirits. Human beings have always had a fear of things we do not understand. We often put spiritual understandings on those very things that are beyond our grasp. It is no surprise that all cultures at one time or another have held beliefs in evil spirits. Speaking from an evolutionary stand point, fear is a survival mechanism. If we don’t understand something we label it as evil and try to avoid it. In the modern scientific era, belief in spirits is ridiculed by secular society. Some consider religion, spirits, ghosts, and demons a part of medieval superstition that oppresses society and keeps people fearfully in religious practices.

For those who believe in evil spirits, the role of a Demonologist is still a relevant and vital position in the paranormal community. Even from the anthropological stand point, the study of evil spirits and understanding of humanity and its coping mechanisms is vital to paranormal research. When we face the fear of the unknown, we often find that the world makes a bit more sense than it did in the beginning. We can only hope that with further study of the paranormal and Demonology that we might come to a greater understanding of the world and the role human beings play in it.

Disclaimer

Lastly I feel that it is important to urge people to stay away from this line of work unless they are willing to commit the rest of their lives to living with the possibility of attack. If you don’t believe in demons, then it’s best to kick back and enjoy a glass of wine while reading a scary novel to entertain yourself. If you are interested I suggest speaking with individuals in the field (who will more than likely tell you to stay out). I also suggest you consider setting up a risk/benefit analysis and diligently consider the pros and con’s to this field. Be honest with yourself, look at your daily schedule and ask if you have the time to work in a field like this. Plan for the future as well. People start families, have jobs that can be unpredictable, friends, time to study, and essential matters such as sleeping and eating. All of these things add up to a fairly full plate for one person to carry.

I fear that the individuals hopping on the band wagon do not really stop and ask themselves if they want to put up with this lifestyle forever. We live in an impulsive day and age, people jump in and out of all types of things. There are still a few things in life that you cannot just try out for a while and leave when you discover it isn’t for you (the Military for example). At the end of the day I ask you, if you are still interested in the demonic and demonology, to have a heart to heart with yourself. Speak with religious leaders of your faith or seek out people in the field to guide you along in making your decision. Don’t let pride or arrogance sway your thinking on the matter either, if you do not feel a call for this line of work, try to avoid it. Don’t get into demonology for the altruistic aspect of helping people. Many human ventures have been started with the best intentions and have failed miserably.

External Links

1. http://www.religiousdemonology.com
2. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0418.html

References

1. Schick, Theodore, and Lewis Vaughn. How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008.
2. Kelly, Henry A. The Devil, Demonology, and Witchcraft. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1974.
3. Churchland, Patricia. Brain-Wise: Studies in Neurophilosophy. Cambridge: Bradford Book, 2002.
4. Baglio, Matt. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist. New York: Doubleday, 2009.
5. Unger, Merrill F. Biblical Demonology: A Study of Spiritual Forces at Work Today. Grand Rapids: Kregel.

Contributions

Author:William Ringer

Other Contributors:Corey Reichle