Demons
Demons, across various cultures and religions, are supernatural beings often associated with evil, chaos, and temptation. While the general characterization of demons aligns across many traditions, details about their appearance, abilities, and hierarchy can vary significantly.
Cultural Variations
- Christianity: In Christianity, demons are often associated with Satan or Lucifer, serving as his minions in the battle against God and humanity.
- Islam: In Islam, jinn can be benevolent or malevolent, but shayatin are evil jinn that rebel against Allah and tempt humans.
- Buddhism and Hinduism: These religions feature a variety of demonic beings that act as obstacles to spiritual progress or as teachers testing the faithful.
- Japanese Mythology: Oni are demonic creatures with great strength, often depicted with wild appearances and weapons, opposing gods and humans.
“The Lesser Key of Solomon” ( Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis) is the most famous grimoire that contains descriptions of 72 demons, whom, according to legend, King Solomon had subdued and utilized. This text is foundational for Western occult tradition. This treatise belongs to the Western occult tradition, which has its roots in European culture, particularly in medieval Christian, Jewish, and Muslim mysticism.
General Characteristics
- Origin: In many beliefs, demons are considered fallen angels, cast out of heaven for rebelling against God, as in Christianity. In other cultures, they might be spirits of the dead, ancient gods demonized by newer religions, or supernatural entities existing independently.
- Appearance: Demons are often depicted with frightening or repulsive features, including horns, hooves, red or black eyes, large wings, and other animalistic elements. This symbolizes their malevolent nature and distinguishes them from humans and divine beings.
- Abilities: Demons are frequently attributed with supernatural powers and abilities, such as magic, telepathy, shape-shifting, or mind control. They can tempt, manipulate, or directly harm humans.
- Role and Function: In many traditions, demons serve as trials for humans, testing their faith, morality, or willpower. They may be used to explain the presence of evil in the world, misfortune, or illness.
This is a list of demons that appear in religion, theology, demonology, mythology, and folklore.
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