Satanism Today - An Encyclopedia of Religion, Folklore and Popular ...

Demons 67
nature and clearly under the dominion of the very
devil whom it denies.” This article estimates that 75
percent of American ministers held this nonrealistic
view of the Prince of Darkness, implying that
most Christian churches are unChristian.
The difference between conservative and
liberal faith traditions is that conservatives interpret
scripture literally, with the idea that the Bible
must be embraced as a whole rather than piecemeal.
Liberals, on the other hand, distinguish
between what they regard as the core of Jesus’
teachings and what might be understood as the
folklore of New Testament times. This folklore
would include the prescientific belief in demons
and the like, which liberal Christians feel can be
ejected without disturbing the central message of
the Gospels.
Conservative Christians generally view liberal
Christianity as being under the sway of demonic
forces. Furthermore, in line with the apostle Paul’s
assertion in 1 Corinthians cited above, conservative
Christians also believe that demons founded
and continue to shape all non-Christian traditions.
As asserted in Demons in the World Today,
“The great ethnic faiths of India, China and Japan
major in demonism, as well as the animistic religions
of Africa, South America and some Islands.”
Conservative Christians take a similar position
with respect to occult/metaphysical/new age religion.
To cite a sample passage from Lee and
Hindson’s Angels of Deceit:
Today people are experimenting with
astrology, witchcraft, Ouija boards, divination,
channeling, Tarot cards, fortune-tellers,
mediums, crystals and shamans. Mankind has
come to the final conclusion of disbelief in
God and has turned to belief in the very
opposite! Satan has cleverly convinced the
modern mind that he is not to be taken
seriously until all other spiritual options are
exhausted. Then, when empty souls turn to
him in desperation, he can take them over
completely and totally. (118)
Finally we should note that some commentators,
even within the conservative Christian community,
view the seemingly obsessive interest in Satan as
itself embodying demonic activity. As C. S. Lewis
wrote in The Screwtape Letters, “There are two equal
and opposite errors into which our race can fall
about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence.
The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive
and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are
equally pleased by both errors” (Lewis 1961, 3).
See also Buddhism; China; Hinduism; Islam;
Judaism; Possession and Exorcism
For Further Reading:
Barn, George. The Index of Leading Spiritual
Indicators. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1996.
———. What Americans Believe. Ventura, CA:
Regal Books, 1991.
Cognac,J.F.Handbook about Demon Possession for
Human Service Workers.
http://www.gelservices.com/hs.html.
“Does Satan Really Exist” Our Baptist Heritage,
March/April 1993. Text published at:
http://www.worldmissions.org/Clipper/Doctrin
e/DoesSatanExist.htm.
Eliade, Mircea, ed. Encyclopedia of Religion. New
York: Macmillan, 1987.
Grimily, Brent, and Elliot Miller. “Can A Christian
Be ‘Demonized’” Christian Research Journal.
Summer 1993.
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/crijrnl/crj0158a.txt.
Laurie, Greg. “Foundations for Living: Who is the
Devil”
http://www.harvest.org/tools/ffl/devil1.html and
http://www.harvest.org/tools/ffl/devil2.html.
Lee, Richard, and Ed Hindson. Angels of Deceit.
Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1993.
Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. New York:
Macmillan, 1961.
Messand, George. The History of the Devil. London:
Newell, 1996.
Niebuhr, Gus. “Poll Indicates Diminished Role of
Devil.” New York Times News Service, May 10,
1997. http://www.anomalousimages.com/news/news042.html.
Pant, Charles. Sacred Origins of Profound Things.
New York: Penguin, 1996.
Turner, Alice K. The History of Hell. New York:
Harcourt Brace & Co., 1993.
Under,M.F.Demons in the World Today. Wheaton,
IL: Tenderly House, 1971.
Villanova, Eric. “Territorial Spirits and Spiritual
Warfare: A Biblical Perspective,” Christian
Research Journal. Summer 1992.
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/crijrnl/crj0111a.txt.
Zimmer, Heinrich. Philosophies of India. New York:
Bollingen, 1951.