| Why is it important that we study demonology? It is | | | | ever-present spirits. Buddhism, as practiced by the |
| important that we understand what the Bible has to | | | | average Thai, has comparatively little to do with the |
| say about demon spirits because so many people | | | | teaching of Guatama, the founder of Buddhism. It is |
| throughout the world fear and do not understand how | | | | closer related to primitive animism than to Buddhism. |
| to combat demonic forces. | | | | I recall while living in Taiwan that the Taiwanese people |
| I have traveled to over 50 countries and 6 continents, | | | | would offer fruit and burn incense to appease the |
| which gives me a great deal of respect for these | | | | spirits. I was shocked to see such superstition within |
| people. My travels however also give me much | | | | every home and business. Outside the local Pizza Hut |
| objectivity and a genuine look at reality, which our TVs | | | | in Taipei, I saw a table finely set with two-liter bottles |
| do not fully depict. | | | | of coca cola and pizza on it to appease the spirits. |
| In Tibet, it is believed that the forces of nature are | | | | During Chinese new year, "lucky money" is burned in |
| ruled by spirits and that spirits inhabit everything: rivers, | | | | an attempt to welcome the good fortune that the |
| rocks, caves, mountain paths, trees, their dwelling | | | | spirits supposedly can bring. Firecrackers are also |
| places and even man himself. Man could be | | | | thrown in an attempt to ward off the bad spirits. Then |
| possessed by bad spirits, therefore Shamans or | | | | another amusing custom is "Ghost month" during which |
| priests had to perform rites to exorcise the spirits. | | | | the Taiwanese are so superstitious and frightened that |
| Strictly speaking the Tibetans are not Buddhists, as | | | | the ghosts are out that few of them dare to drive their |
| their primordial religion is still dominant. The greatly | | | | cars on the road that month in fear of something bad |
| feared spirit world occupies most of their attention. | | | | happening to them. |
| What they don't realize is that God is a Spirit (John | | | | A friend of mine threw a bed sheet over himself and |
| 4:24), not multiple spirits. This being said, any spirit other | | | | walked out on his apartment balcony one evening |
| than the Spirit of Christ is demonic (Romans 8:9). The | | | | making strange noises to just see the reaction of |
| true God is a consuming fire and brings a warm | | | | those down below. All scattered feverishly as they |
| comforting Presence to your life (Hebrews 12:29). Fear | | | | were gripped with fear. |
| on the contrary brings a cold, chilling presence that | | | | Dead religion and its followers are quite comical. |
| paralyzes your soul. | | | | Certainly you can get a good laugh when you take a |
| Within Thailand, the average Thai will pay considerably | | | | closer look at the spiritual ignorance throughout the |
| closer attention to the spirit world than to the teaching | | | | world. Yet at the same time, if you have a heart for |
| of Buddhism. Their world throbs and pulsates with | | | | humanity as I do, it will grip you to do something about |
| spirits. Each home and business is "protected" by a | | | | it. |
| spirit house, to which homage is paid and the spirits are | | | | Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall |
| placated daily with food, drink and flowers. The spirit | | | | make you free" (John 8:32). We need more than just |
| world is a world of fear: fear of offending the spirits, | | | | spirituality, we need spirit and truth to stay straight |
| fear of the night which they believe is filled with spirits, | | | | (John 4:24). Spiritual ignorance is a sore evil in the earth |
| fear, fear, fear. Fear of offending the spirit of their | | | | that has deceived and destroyed many. |
| ancestors, fear of not giving sufficient attention to the | | | | |