Yabby,
Please quote where I have claimed demons as beings do exist. I have mentioned addictions and fears that haunt some people - but demons as beings never!

The ancient Greeks believed a person who had drunk too much fermented wine was demon posessed. That is why alcohol is called spirits, because it alters rational behaviour. Science and education alone does not stop drunkedness. Yet I have known of shock situations that have converted alcoholics immediately. I was involved in the setting up of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation farm and have heard the testimonies of former addicts.

I write for religious journals exposing views of demons as beings as nonsense. The fact is many pagan cultures believe they do exist, and quoting science to them does not change their beliefs. It is like many intelligent Westerners who belive the stars determine their life so buy its daily readings; it is an intrenched belief, that science alone cannot break. Superstition needs more than science in many cases

Philo

Interesting... "I write for religious journals exposing views of demons as beings as nonsense".. good on you there.

"The fact is many pagan cultures believe they do exist", no doubt, but the point here, for me at least, is that Christians, most of them by the sound of it, also believe this, which is what the Oz article was all about. But not just Catholics. Far more than the Vicar of Rome peddles this demon garbage as a solid belief. Far more than what you dismiss as 'pagans' believe in it.

"and quoting science to them does not change their beliefs", quite so, and it's a bit like that when dealing with people who believe in something that 'isn't there'. No amount of logic shifts them from their childhood training in supernatural beings. Frustrating, isn't it? .

"It is like many intelligent Westerners who belive the stars determine their life so buy its daily readings; it is an intrenched belief" again, just like 'the faith' is an entrenched belief, of about the same standard as 'reading the stars' is.

I am so glad you can understand this, and see the problem so clearly.

The Blue Cross,
"it's a bit like that when dealing with people who believe in something that 'isn't there'. No amount of logic shifts them from their childhood training in supernatural beings".

Mary Ohare an atheist managed to have religion removed from American schools because she did not want her son taught religion, nor did she teach her son about Christ. What happened to the adult child Murray Ohare? He decided to study what his Mother was so opposed to so he could carry on what she had begun. Where is Murray today - a Christian and Conference speaker defending the faith of Christians. So childhood brainwashing does not work.

Ah, the well-known 'O'Hare Effect', eh?

My my, stagering proof.

But is this an absolute?

Does this happen to everyone, without fail, I wonder?

Could it be that there are as many who go 'the other way', and that the 'O'Hare Effect' might simply apply to O'Hare?

According to Philo's logic, Christians should
celebrate the removal of SRE from schools,
because an atheist education will cause the
children to grow up to be Christians.

I like it :)

Mind you, I think Philo's take on "demons"
is pretty reasonable. They work as metaphor,
so long as you bear in mind that they don't
really exist in any manifest sense.

No harm in that.