Posted by MKB on January 10, 2005, at 16:42:18
In reply to Demons, do they exist?, posted by mmcconathy on January 10, 2005, at 14:55:57
I recently lived in a 3rd world country and worked with missionaries who minister to tribal groups. These are level-headed conservative Christians, but they have over the years seen many instances of demon-possession. My missionary friends believe demons manifest themselves more frequently among primitive peoples. They appear very much as they did in New Testament times. And yes, they have had sessions where they had to cast demons out of people and have been successful. Most of the mainline Protestant denominations have not prepared their ministers and missionaries to deal with this, but seminaries are now beginning to study this more closely because of the obvious need. It seems many missionaries came across demon-possession unexpectedly and were not prepared with how to deal with it. In more civilized societies, demon possession manifests differently (*possibly* in some cases of mental illness). My information comes from statements made to me by a Southern Baptist pastor and by World Team missionaries, not from first-hand knowledge. There are books that deal with the subject.
poster:MKB
thread:440191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20041120/msgs/440221.html