Devil

[boona]

Hi guys,
Im posting this queston on here as you guys usually come up with answers that make sense! Basically my sister has recently started going to church and she has reallly been enjoying it but she has now come to the conclusion that anything bad that happens in life is to do with the devil. For instance any mental health problems or cancer etc she believes it is the devil that has caused it. The reason I am posting on here tonight is that she has a 7yr old child who has devoloped a few different "ticks" she told me she has spoken to him about it and she has told him to ignore the urge to do whatever tick it is because it is the devil making him do it and he must ignore the devil and think of God and God will stop it happening. I told her this is wrong and she should not tell him such a thing! Can anyone eplain where she may have got this idea from?

[boona]

Anyone?

[modeller]

If you mean tiny muscle 'ticks ' I would say they are the result of stress induced by your sisters obsession . The more she talks about it the worse his ticks will get.
Where she got the ideas from I think that's for the theists to answer.

[woofgang]

its an old idea that the devil can take over people and make them do things against their will. google "gadarene swine"

[boona]

Thankyou, are their any theists able to help with this?

[boona]

Thanks Woofgang Im googling it

[woofgang]

well I believe in God but NOT in demonic possession. I certainly wouldn't call myself a theist by the AB definition.

[ducksie]

I don't think its a theist you need in this case, why has your sister suddenly gone to church, is she misinterpreting the message and what kind of church is it? I mean is it mainstream or evangelist or what, what are they preaching there. I think it's more a psychiatric problem on your sister's side, if you don't mind me saying so

[EDDIE51]

What Church is she going to ? The 'mainstream' churches do not blame 'the devil' bad things . Is it one of these evangelical 'blood and thunder' churches? If you can find out who he/she is I would ask the minister/vicar/ leader to have a quiet word with her.

[jno]

yes, this sounds rather like one of the fringe churches. Mainstream churches used to teach this sort of thing centuries ago, but they had difficulty making their flock believe it and have gradually let it go. You'll be lucky, or unlucky, to hear mention of the devil in your average Anglican church.

What to do about it, though... I don't know. If the tics (sp?) are in some way voluntary, it may indeed be possible to concentrate on overcoming them. If they're involuntary, all the worship in the world won't help.

[woofgang]

As its a seven year old child involved, i would be inclined to keep an eye on this. It might require an intervention from social services.

[ducksie]

Just looked back at Boona's other posts regarding her sister and I think her sister has a negative past and her nephew was once involved with a child that wanted to cut his own throat when the nephew was only 5, I don't think she's finding the answers she's looking for in the right place

Boona, I'd get medical help for your sister or go along with woofgang's suggestion as hard as it seems

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure I can add much to the above. The issue is mainly with your sister, not that I want to tell others what they should believe but blaming another for your ills is simply a way to absolve oneself of any responsibility. Whether you are the one in need of help or it is someone you know and "should" be helping.

I think some extreme sects may well believe this, but I don't think it has been mainstream since, well probably the middle ages. Most are enlightened now-a-days.

One can only try to reason with her. Or in extreme case maybe inform authorities. But try to get her to see sense first, and that's down to your own persuasive powers. Try not to push too hard, sometimes one will feel under attack and stick with their viewpoint even when faced with overwhelming argument that it is wrong. Softly softly to persuade.

[ducksie]

you're a wise man Old_Geezer

[seadogg]

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour": 1 Peter5:8 used to be a part of the King James Bible which was read out in Evensong in the Anglican church but this is not as threatening as the versions used by the more extreme religious sects.
If your sister has swallowed this stuff she, and the child are in trouble and all you can do is follow the customary common sense of Old Geezer.

[pixie373]

Try to persuade your sister to take him to the doctor. In all probability they will treat her rather than him.

[naomi24]

Boona, hello. Long time. How are you? For goodness sake don’t ask theists for help! That’s where your sister’s problems began!! She’s being brainwashed and doesn’t realise it.

jno, //You'll be lucky, or unlucky, to hear mention of the devil in your average Anglican church.//

Not true. When was the last time you went to an Anglican church? In my experience, in recent years it has changed from the fluffy to the frightening!

[jno]

ah, you must live in a more satanic area than me - you don't hear the devil spoken of much in churches in my little corner of the world (but I haven't been to them all).

[naomi24]

That's debateable - but you clearly haven’t been to a Christening/Baptism - ever.

[Theland]

Christian teaching suggests that the fallen angel, Lucifer, i.e. the devil, was responsible for sowing imperfection in an otherwise perfect world.
Hence, any negativity that we encounter, can be traced back to the universe not operating according to Gods plan, because of the pollution of sin.

[naomi24]

But Theland, wasn't that all part of an omniscient God's blueprint?