Is demon possession real?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been reading the book of Mark and noticed there are many demons driven out. Chapter 5 even talks about a legion of demons being driven out of a man who used to be chained up and would cut himself with stones.

I grew up very involved in the church. My parent were involved as well. Unfortunately, my mom used to beat me regularly and tell me she hated me and wished I was dead. My dad, an elder in the church, molested me for years and eventually raped my mom in front of me.

I had a lot of pain and some mental illness in my 20s and used to slit my wrists when my parents would say or do mean things to me. I was part of a Bible study that practiced speaking in tongues and believed in demon possession. It was loosely affiliated with the Methodist church. My therapist was part of that Bible study.

My therapist , pastor, and I were chatting one evening and they said I was possessed by many demons. They called me Legion, and that nickname stuck, so I was called Legion from then on.

Eventually, I quit going, quit school, and moved away.

Now my life is in order, but I still have the desire to cut - I just don’t do it. With all the references to the demon possessed made in Mark, I’ve been wondering what people think about being demon possessed. I live in constant fear that people will find out how messed up I am. Maybe Legion was a good name for me.

[Anonymous]

William Peter Blatty certainly thought so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:William Peter Blatty certainly thought so.

I just looked this up on Wiki: "The Catholic Church authorizes the use of exorcism for those who are believed to be the victims of demonic possession." So yeah, the Church believes it's real.

[Anonymous]

If your story is real it sounds to me like distancing yourself as much as possible from any form of religion is the first step to your possible path to healing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your story is real it sounds to me like distancing yourself as much as possible from any form of religion is the first step to your possible path to healing.

It sounds like distancing yourself from your family and from that particular church are the first step to healing. If the story is real.

[Anonymous]

No. People in the Bible didn't understand mental health issues and dealt with them as best they could.

[Anonymous]

And with your history of abuse and trauma, of course you have some mental health issues. Please find a secular therapist who specializes in abuse.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm sorry so many people failed you, and were so abusive.

No, "demon possession' is not real. People who say it is, either don't understand mental illness like we do now, or are horribly manipulative and abusive, like the therapist and pastor you mention.

Go live your life, however makes you feel happiest and at peace. "Demons" are as real as the boogeyman under your be - it's a concept made up entirely by humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve been reading the book of Mark and noticed there are many demons driven out. Chapter 5 even talks about a legion of demons being driven out of a man who used to be chained up and would cut himself with stones.

I grew up very involved in the church. My parent were involved as well. Unfortunately, my mom used to beat me regularly and tell me she hated me and wished I was dead. My dad, an elder in the church, molested me for years and eventually raped my mom in front of me.

I had a lot of pain and some mental illness in my 20s and used to slit my wrists when my parents would say or do mean things to me. I was part of a Bible study that practiced speaking in tongues and believed in demon possession. It was loosely affiliated with the Methodist church. My therapist was part of that Bible study.

My therapist , pastor, and I were chatting one evening and they said I was possessed by many demons. They called me Legion, and that nickname stuck, so I was called Legion from then on.

Eventually, I quit going, quit school, and moved away.

Now my life is in order, but I still have the desire to cut - I just don’t do it. With all the references to the demon possessed made in Mark, I’ve been wondering what people think about being demon possessed. I live in constant fear that people will find out how messed up I am. Maybe Legion was a good name for me.

It's such a ridiculous concept that is used to exert control over others. No possession is not a thing. It's a joke.

[Anonymous]

I think they are metaphors.

[Anonymous]

It very well IS real. And we see it everyday. We just have a veil cloaking the truth.
Why do you think there are serial killers ? Why do they name their entities ?
Why do so many shooters say they don't remember shooting anyone ?
Why do psych doctors refuse to admit there is possibly demon possessed people ?
Simple fact, devil on one shoulder angel on the other.
All of the Popes were demons.
We are about to see many many demons. The ones that sold their souls for fame and fortune.
Speaking in tongues IS demon possession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It very well IS real. And we see it everyday. We just have a veil cloaking the truth.
Why do you think there are serial killers ? Why do they name their entities ?
Why do so many shooters say they don't remember shooting anyone ?
Why do psych doctors refuse to admit there is possibly demon possessed people ?
Simple fact, devil on one shoulder angel on the other.
All of the Popes were demons.
We are about to see many many demons. The ones that sold their souls for fame and fortune.
Speaking in tongues IS demon possession.

OP, do you want this person to be a role model? Or do you want to give 2000 years of scientific learning a chance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are metaphors.

Religious concepts were originally names for things people didn't understand. Now that science has figured out what many of these things are, they are retrofitted as metaphors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It very well IS real. And we see it everyday. We just have a veil cloaking the truth.
Why do you think there are serial killers ? Why do they name their entities ?
Why do so many shooters say they don't remember shooting anyone ?
Why do psych doctors refuse to admit there is possibly demon possessed people ?
Simple fact, devil on one shoulder angel on the other.
All of the Popes were demons.
We are about to see many many demons. The ones that sold their souls for fame and fortune.
Speaking in tongues IS demon possession.

You sound like a demon yourself.

[Anonymous]

Please don't cut. You deserve better.
God gave you a body to lift up your soul.
Honor God with your body's efforts.