Demon possession
From Urantia Wiki, the encyclopedia of The Urantia Book
Also: spirit possession, influence of devils, demoniac possession, demoniacal possession, possessed by one, possess the feeble- and evil-minded.
disharmonious spirits only existed after Caligastic rebellion 87:4.7
The Jewish traditions of heaven and hell and the doctrine of devils were principally derived from the Zoroastrians during the times when the Jews were under the political and cultural dominance of the Persians. 95:6.6
in olden times anything abnormal was ascribed to spirit possession, any striking mental or physical abnormality constituted qualification for being a medicine man. 90:1.2
there was a time in which the belief that physical sickness and mental derangement could be caused by the dwelling of a so-called unclean spirit in the mind or body of the afflicted person was well-nigh universal. 121:7.12 148:2.3
Caligastia has absolutely no power to enter the minds of men, neither can he draw near to their souls to tempt or corrupt them unless they really desire to be cursed with his wicked presence. 53:8.6-9
In the Urantia Book
Jesus and demons
- When the seventy related how “even the devils were subject” to them, they referred to the wonderful cures they had wrought in the cases of victims of nervous disorders. Nevertheless, there had been a few cases of real spirit possession relieved by these ministers 163:6.2
- Jesus really cast out demons in Capernaum 153:4.1
- Amos, the Kheresa lunatic, was not possessed, he just had a nervous disorder, and no spirits supposedly entered the swine 151:6.6
- James of Safed’s son was afflicted with epilepsy and at the same time was possessed by a real mischievous midwayer 158:4.2 158:5
- Norana the Syrian woman believed her daughter was possessed but she only was afflicted by a grievous nervous disorder 156:1
Confusion after Pentecost
- There has never been any possesion after arrival of Spirit of Truth 53:8.7 77:7.4-8 87:4.7 141:4.4-8 145:2.13 146:7.1 153:4.1 163:6.2
- The supposed casting out of devils since the arrival of the Spirit of Truth has been a matter of confounding a belief in demoniacal possession with hysteria, insanity, and feeble-mindedness. 77:7.6-7 141:4.8 145:2.12-14
- Even prior to Pentecost no rebel spirit could dominate a normal human mind, and since that day even the weak minds of inferior mortals are free from such possibilities. 77:7.7
- Long after the day of Pentecost the Apostle John, who was the last to write of Jesus’ doings, avoided all reference to these so-called acts of “casting out devils,” and this he did in view of the fact that such cases of demon possession never occurred after Pentecost. 145:2.13
- In general, when weak and dissolute mortals are supposed to be under the influence of devils and demons, they are merely being dominated by their own inherent and debased tendencies, being led away by their own natural propensities. 53:8.9
- rebel midwayers are now interned, held prisoner 51:3.7 77:7.8
Bible parallels
Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.
- Overcoming devils 163:6.2 — Lk 10:17b-18,20.
- Healing the demoniac 153:4.1 — Mt 9:32-33a; Mt 12:22; Lk 11:14.
- Legend about demon-possessed pigs 151:6.6 — Mt 8:30-33; Mk 5:11-16; Lk 8:33-34.
- Beelzebub 77:7.4 — Mt 10:25; Mt 12:24,27; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15,18-19.
- Sending the twelve to ministry 141:4.4 — Mt 10:1,8; Lk 9:2; Lk 10:9.
- Witch of Endor 146:7.1 — 1 Sam 28:7-25.
- Brought sick people 77:7.6 — Mt 4:24.
- Jesus to pour out His spirit 141:4.8 — Ezk 11:19; Ezk 18:31; Ezk 36:26-27; Jl 2:28-29; Lk 24:49; Jn 7:39; Jn 14:16-18,23,26; Jn 15:4,26; Jn 16:7-8,13-14; Jn 17:21-23; Acts 1:5,8a; Acts 2:1-4,16-18; Acts 2:33; 2 Co 13:5; Ga 2:20; Ga 4:6; Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30; 1 Jn 4:12-15. *Kingdom comes in power and glory*: Mt 24:30-31; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27; Acts 1:7-8.
- Healing of epileptic 145:2.12 — Mk 1:23-26; Lk 4:33-35.