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In traditional western belief, a demon (or daemon, dæmon, or even daimon)
is a supernatural non-human being generally considered as a malevolent spirit.
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However, in more ancient belief systems, this distinction of demons being evil was
not immediately assumed, nor present.
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Origin of word (Etymology) |
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The word demon, comes from Old Greek religious history. In latin, the word is translated
as daemon. In Greek religious history, (δαίμων)
daeomon is a being of nature intermediate between that of gods and men; an inferior
divinity and spirit (including the souls of men).
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In Hellenic religious history around the Mediterranean, the word developed further
for attendent spirits capable of interposing within a human subject by possession,
thus enabling the human subject to take on additional powers that the spirit provides.
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Thus when the stories concerning King David and Solomon were written, this ancient
belief took on added concern in the development of ancient mysteries to enable the
summonsing and control of such spirits for the purpose of the caller. Thus the central
tenets of magic were formed from this period.
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In later development of Roman religious history from 300 BCE to 400 CE, daemons
were considered alternate names for the attendant spirits that guide (positively
or negatively) the path of humans. Also known as a genius, or genie.
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The original meaning of the word genius meant “one through whom the spirits
speak.” In other words “spiritual possession”.
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However, around the 1400’s, the word became a description of spirits of ill
towards humans, namely “A malignant being of superhuman nature; a devil”.
(1400’s) So it is today, the word demon is considered synonymous with “an
evil spirit” (1806).
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The concept of hierarchy of demons (demonology)
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A concept that has co-existed with the idea of both demons and angels since the
very beginning through the advent of Zoroastrianism over 3,000 years ago is the
concept that a hierarchy system exists concerning demons and their powers. This
is called Demonology is unlike Angelology is rarely given formal recognition as
a proper major division of theology.
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While the concept of malevolent spirits and powerful “non-human” spirits
have existed in religious systems for well over 4,000 years, it was the Persian
religion of Zoroastrianism that was the first to formally create a hierarchy of
demons, giving dozens of names, including magic symbols, headed by Angra Mainyu
or Ahriman.
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Following the captivity of the surviving priests and officials of the former Israelite
kingdom in Persia from 590’s BCE onwards, this hierarchy appeared to have
a profound influence on Judaism and a number of ancient mystical texts such as the
Keys of Solomon appear to have both replicated and refined this model.
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The concept of “Satan”, the supreme evil demon in Christianity comes
from Hebrew Hebrew word for "accuser", itself a derivation of an earlier
important God of Israelite worship known as “Dagan”, from which “dragon”
is also ultimately derived.
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One heaven definition of Demon
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Under the constitution of One Heaven, a demon is defined as:
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A Demon is the spirit of an unreformed spirit
of either a deceased person or higher order life form, having refused to accept
their inherent right of citizenship of One Heaven, the United States of Spirit and
continuing to behave in a negative and destructive manner.
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Under the constitution of One Heaven, all reformed demons are honoured with the
title of Heroes upon renouncing their previous behaviour and accepting their inherent
right of entry into One Heaven. Therefore all reformed demons have the potential
to enter One Heaven.
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In contrast, an active demon is a spirit who openly rejects their rights and the
rules and conditions of One Heaven according to its constitution, so by their own
actions choose to remain in exile.
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Under the constitution of One Heaven, both a dedicated force of Angels and Heroes
shall be dedicated to assisting demons undertake reform and their own emancipation.
In addition, specific procedures have been granted to assist the living in addressing
specific demonic problems including the calling for assistance when such problems
involve very rare cases of possession.
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About > Spirits > Demons
