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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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Spirits: Demons 
