The Demonologist

Why talk about demons? What is there that hasn’t already been said? Actually, quite a lot. 

Demons in human history and folklore have been around for at least as long as human religion. Before there was worship of a benevolent god (or gods), most ancient peoples sought to propitiate the demons of nature, the beings that controlled events outside of human understanding and influence. There were weather demons, animal demons, fire demons etc. Without getting into too much detail at this point, it’s pretty safe to say that early demons were about as evil as Mother Nature herself- that is to say, more random and unpredictable than anything else.

So how did we get from that belief to the evil demons of today? What relevance do demons have on today’s thinking? How are demons viewed worldwide? Why the seeming sudden fascination with them in popular media? Why is it important to understand how demons have changed in our perception through the centuries?

Do they actually exist?

This blog will attempt to answer these and many more questions. Be prepared for a lengthy exploration, as these questions aren’t easily answered. Rather than attempt a systematic approach, I'll tackle the topic from many different angles, using many sources both modern and ancient.