Sandman's ParaReality Radio Forum

[Mithrandir44]

Demon or very nasty Poltergeist?
A Christian Armchair Demonologist’s Point of View.

Over the years there have been many questions pertaining to the difference between what we humans perceive of as spirits of the beyond acting in a “malevolent” manner, versus that which we find aggressively taking advantage of people on a more diabolical level. Considering the original practice of Christian doctrine using the word in a more westernized term, or Middle English, from Late Latin daemōn, from Latin, spirit, from Greek daimōn, divine power, much of what we confuse the issue with, is the simple idiom, “unclean spirit”.

In retrospect, the demons of old have been characterized as “lords, lesser gods, guiding spirits, unclean spirits”, etc. This, in itself, leaves many people scratching their heads in order to find a difference between that which goes bump in the night, sometimes bumping us, and that which literally looks to gain advantage over the human soul via torments and other influences. In order to realize the differences I have found some ideas that have helped me throughout the years, and might In fact shed a little light on helping you.

1. Lest we forget, a “Demon” in the Christian sense of the word, never lived upon this earth. Most notably known as one of God’s fallen angels, a Demon is in league with Lucifer or Satan, or according to most Christian beliefs, the favored angel of the Lord’s…. who in his greed for a domain of his own, was given the earth to rule over those angels (now turned evil) which fell from grace with him.
2. A “Poltergeist” or “Noisy spirit” as one German translation espouses to, was in fact a human being once on this earth, had died, and has reason to be roaming this plane still, either searching for rest, or perhaps because he or she doesn’t wish to rest. The term “Ghost” comes from the old German word, “Geist” or spirit, and is now loosely used, either in place of Poltergeist, or vaguely within the same context as a “ghost”. This entity makes noise or likes others to know his or her presence. Either way, both terms are really one and the same.
3. Returning Remainders: I like to call images that we perceive of playing over and over again in an “astral” or “ghostly” form, doing the same thing as if it was a video rewound and replayed for the viewer’s recognition or acknowledgement. A good example would be the form of an old woman walking through a wall as a ghost onto what was once a balcony, then disappearing, and then repeating this action and only this action throughout the years.

When doing a case study into finding the differences, one of the first aspects of differentiating between a “spirit or ghost haunting” and a “demonic infestation”, is the level of intent. Simply put, it is the obvious measuring tool of what the “noisy spirit” or potential “demon” is looking to achieve with its actions. Is the object of this influence either malevolent or benign? In all cases time is a factor, as the original intention might look peaceful and acceptable to the laymen experiencing thus, but eventually the very rationale for deception was to gain insight or leverage for a deeper, more diabolical purpose. This leads to further forms of exploratory insight into gaining the necessary knowledge or perception through various techniques we can discuss in the future.

But what about those Ghosts who do bad things to people…..how do you then classify them as “Malevolent Ghosts” instead of “Demonic” influences? This has been the question many religious as well as paranormal investigators have fought over for years, and the very purpose of my little dissertation today.

1. Force “naming” the haunting apparition or manifestation has always been very useful to either the exorcist, or one who exorcises demons, in that by getting the object to admit (in the case of Demon’s within their usual egotistical manner) their name or what they are called, will usually lead to an understanding of what they represent.
2. Research into the background of both the area and place this occurrence is happening will normally explain traumatic histories or any relevant situations influencing this manifestation.
3. Biblical usage and psalm quotations verbally expressed by the investigator have quickly shown the differences between a spirit haunting malevolently and a demonic influence. In the case of a “Ghostly” haunting, very rarely will a reaction follow a quotation from biblical passage, unless the ghost is opposed to the message, and then the reaction is normally a great deal different in outcome.
4. Some investigators will use consecrated objects such as holy water blessed by the Pope, or crosses, or even in the case of Native American religious techniques, shaman talismans to weed out the differences.

But in conclusion, it is only by long term and diligent observation, biblical references, and in most cases, scientific analysis that I have found the difference between a ghost and a demon. I have seen ghosts who have haunted people so badly that they were considered demons and demons which infested a home quite benevolently for many years until they achieved a very sinister purpose. To me it has always been my belief in my Lord Jesus Christ and his healing ways, which acts as a lantern for my resolve to know the difference between when one needs to be led to a better light, and some dark and foreboding evil which needs to be banished back to the hell made just for them.

If you have a situation in which you find yourself in need of help because of a haunting or manifestation, please consider finding a Christian Practitioner in your area to guide you to what I have always considered the best path to relieving yourself and your loved ones of this phenomena.
_________________
Mithrandir44
Forum Moderator: ParaReality Radio Forum
www.parareality.com

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
- President Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
(1911 - 2004)

[Sandman]

Very interesting posting, Mithander. I can honestly say that I agree with everything that you said, with one possible exception - your explaination of poltergeists.
You have a very interesting point of view on the subject and I'm sure that your experience as a Demonologist has helped you to form it. However, I believe that poltergeist phenomena can be a manifestation of the troubled mind of a teenager.
When one goes through puberty, unfamiliar feelings begin to surface causing confusion to the teenager. They also begin to become more independent from their parents. The "adult" side of their mind wants to be seen as an equal to their parents and the "adolescent" side still needs the comfort and guidance of their parents.
Then, of course, there comes the emerging sexuality of the teenager. They begin to become interested in the opposite sex and actively pursue relationships, thereby opening themselves for the certain hurt they will feel whenever those relationships come to an end.
Also, "clicks" or groups begin to form and people are usually placed in to one category or another, which can cause anger for being rejected from one or more of those groups.
Therefore, the adolescent mind and body is going through constant changes, which if not dealt with positively, can form a type of energy, for lack of a better word, that can manifest itself as a poltergeist. The adolescent, who is NOT acting out, but rather keeping his/her emotions bottled up inside them is creating the poltergeist which lashes out; throwing objects and causing general havoc. Usually when the cuase is addressed, the poltergeist phenomena ceases.
Look back at the most documented poltergeist cases and think about it. They almost always involve someone young, an adolescent. Teh coincidence is just too great to be ignored. There has to be something to it.
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Sandman
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[Mithrandir44]

Sandman,

I would agree that “psychokinetic” energy can and will manifest itself from the hormonal changes mostly adolescent girls have found to release, but in the classical definition of the term “Poltergeist”, the translated example I used was to show very little, if any difference between a “ghost” and a “Poltergeist”. If we were to expand the definition to include outside energies that emit an influence on perceptive reality, then we could include a wide variety of “titles” for different things. For instance, we could call magnetic pulse energy, “poltergeist phenomena” when is has been seen to cause illusionary visions or in a case I recently investigated, gravitational anomalies.

So in conclusion my friend, I would have to say that I wouldn’t use the term “poltergeist” to define the release of energy we have seen in pubescent girls and sometimes boys, but instead a more precise terminology such as “psychokinetic” transfer. One has intelligence behind it, and one is a direct result of what we like to believe is a natural or preternatural occurrence.
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Mithrandir44
Forum Moderator: ParaReality Radio Forum
www.parareality.com

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
- President Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
(1911 - 2004)

[Sandman]

Ok, I can accept that definition. Its an interesting one that I actually hadn't thought of before. However, using the term "Poltergeist" as a broad definition still covers both bases, as far as I'm concerned.
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Sandman
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[Mithrandir44]

I understand where the word “poltergeist” has been loosely generalized in a broader prospective of supernatural occurrences, yet a classic Para psychological definition of the term has now in fact taken a beating over the years.

Normally the best way in which an investigator correctly utilizes the term in his analysis is by determining whether or not the activity in question has “intelligence” behind it. A motive if you will, whether it is guided or influencing will pin point the difference between non intelligent yet “physical” reaction to some form of stimuli, versus “spirit based” or “Demonic” based intelligent and thus physical influence.

Examples:

1. Preternatural movement of a glass across a table determined to have slid and then broken because of some form of magnetic pulse wave emitting from an electrical grid, or perhaps an underground stream increasing the level of electro magnetic energy in the region.

Vs

2. A long term investigation into an obnoxious haunting in which it has been determined that a “malevolent” ghost is throwing glasses off a counter behind a bar.

Now in example “1” we have what has been hypothesized as being a “non intelligent” physical determination based on a degree of measurement determined by say an EMF or Electro Magnetic Frequency Detector which freaks out every time it gets close to the grid, and example “2” where the investigator has determined based on many hours of observation and scientific study that an “entity”, albeit “intelligent”, has caused a physical or “noisy” situation to occur in the home.

In conclusion, a “Poltergeist” can only be a ghost (and yes it has been mistakenly used to explain demon activity as well) that causes physical manifestations to occur and has been determined by a professional to be thus, and not something preternatural influencing the very same object or characteristic.

For a brief but standard definition of “Poltergeist” check out: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/poltergeist
_________________
Mithrandir44
Forum Moderator: ParaReality Radio Forum
www.parareality.com

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
- President Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
(1911 - 2004)

[Sandman]

So, you don't think that teenage angst, for lack of a better term, which is built up can actually manifest itself into some form of paranatural energy and actually become a poltergeist?
I think that it can. At least that's my theory. What do you think?
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[Mithrandir44]

[Sandman]

Ok, so I get it. You're saying that a poltergeist can only be a spirit of someone who was once living. Manifested or created energy, which can display characteristics of poltergeists, cannot be a poltergeist.
I'll have to admit that its a very interesting theory, but if you're saying that the two should not be placed into the same category, where do you place that created, poltergeist-like energy? What would you call that energy? Would it be considered a Tulpa?
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[Mithrandir44]