Almost Two-Thirds of 18-29 Year Olds Believe in "Demon Possession" What Is Happening to America?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/almost-two-thirds-americans-18-29-years-old-believe-demon-possession-and-number-growing

Are Americans becoming less religious? While church affiliation is probably declining, don't expect the atheist revolution anytime soon:
Over one half (63 percent, to be exact) of young Americans 18-29 years old now believe in the notion that invisible, non-corporeal entities called "demons" can take partial or total control of human beings, revealed an October 2012 Public Policy Polling survey that also showed this belief isn't declining among the American population generally; it's growing.

Throughout last year, triumphal atheists and secularists had celebrated (and many of the religiously-inclined bemoaned) a 2012 survey, from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which showed an increase, especially among young adults, in the number of Americans who declared no specific religious affiliation: a chunk of the population now up to almost 20 percent according to the survey. These Americans were dubbed the "nones".

The Pew survey finding was interpreted by some observers (who missed the fine print) as indicating that Americans are becoming less religious. But the survey didn't necessarily indicate that - it simply showed that Americans, young Americans especially, are dropping out of organized religion.

Here's where it gets interesting:

The Pew survey also showed that a whopping 85 percent of those "nones", Americans with no specific religious affiliation - who comprise almost twenty percent of the overall population - nonetheless had spiritual or supernatural beliefs and, as the October 2012 Public Policy Polling survey ( link to PDF of survey results) revealed, that included belief in the reality of demons.

[bemildred]

1. We are doomed. nt

[Last Stand]

130. So then you don't believe in God either?

Or maybe you've actually seen Him for yourself?

[bemildred]

133. What do you think? nt

[Last Stand]

167. I'm guessing not.

The point I'm making is that if you (or scores of others) believe in God but not demons, I'd question the rationale. Both are entities written about it the bible and are embraced widely and for millenniums by religious institutions, but are not found in many modern day photos. Where's the proof of either? Why believe in some of that but not and not all of it?

[bemildred]

169. I'm not much about believing or not believing things.

Is the way I'd put it. Reality does not need me to defend it, and I rarely undertake the job, though usually I say what I think.

That said, I tend to the gullible side, I think we much overstate our grasp of what it real and what is not, and the world is a wilder place than we like to allow.

[alphafemale]

175. Do you believe in Santa Claus?

I certainly not going to live by the woo-woo some bearded, misogynistic shit-sphincter scratched on a lamb skin thousands of years ago.

The average eight year old today is probably smarter than that that idiot.

They didn't even know where babies came from yet and you want to believe their stories of demons?

How about the Charibdes? Believe in that? Is thunder caused by angry gods?

[trumad]

2. Simply said---

Reefer is better than years past.

[hobbit709]

6. Never made me believe in demons.

[Sheldon Cooper]

11. That junk we used to smoke was stinkweed compared to what's out there today.

[hobbit709]

12. I smoked pretty good stuff back then too.

Still didn't see demons or believe in them, even on acid.

[Sheldon Cooper]

13. Heh. I saw ALL kinds of weird shit on acid.

Those were the days, right?

[hobbit709]

14. Let's just say I did way more than my share.

I started while it was still legal.

[HereSince1628]

3. Maybe, they have an inkling about the NSA's relationship to their digital devices?

[n2doc]

4. Because proof exists

Cheney, Rumsfeld, Guillani, hell most of the congressional Repubs all act demon possessed, or ARE demons.

[RKP5637]

28. Well said, we've watched them in action many times - some call them reptiles, others

demons, fossils, or the possessed. And we have tbe baggers ... Add it all up, these kids might not be that far off base. AKA delusional sociopaths. And we've got Michele Bachmann, now is she possessed or what ...

[n2doc]

33. How could I forget about Bachmann

Exhibit #1 for Demon possession.

[anneboleyn]

47. Yes. She is clearly possessed and/or is one of the "reptilians" who control us...

[awoke_in_2003]

173. Looks like she is getting...

the Shocker.

[Niceguy1]

5. demons, ghosts

Etc exist in many cultures. ..

[cleanhippie]

49. BELIEF in demons and ghosts exists in all cultures.

Doesn't make demons and ghosts any more real.

[seveneyes]

7. Overdose on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Or smoking too much of that synthetic weed.

[cali]

8. I vote for too much Buffy and the like.

[Vashta Nerada]

79. Buffy was on from 1997-2004.

I hardly think that's the case.

[seveneyes]

89. Late bloomers

Besides, many folks don't experience some shows until they get them on DVD or download a torrent.

[RiffRandell]

123. Hey, they still run it on the LOGO channel.

So they could still be getting brainwashed.

We might as well blame Twilight (which I've never read any of the books nor sat through any of the movies) but I know plenty of adult Moms that never liked a book I lent them (The Reader is one) but loved that series.

Then it was onto Fifty Shades of Grey, which I will admit to reading the first one and lmao.

[JHB]

9. Because "roll your eyes and say 'Seriously?'" was not an option in the poll?

What's the methodology for screening out chain-yanking answers?

[whistler162]

184. Shhhhh... people are supposed to believe every poll that is published.

[bunnies]

10. Theres a million popular ghost shows on tv.

This doesnt surprise me at all.

[Kaleva]

43. A million?

[bunnies]

56. lol.

Probably more like two million. I never exaggerate. Never!

[RKP5637]

44. Yep, what I was thinking too ... n/t

[bowens43]

15. gods and devils are mans worst invention.

it never ceases to amaze that otherwise reasonable people insist on believing in magical, invisible, omnipotent beings.....willful ignorance . All religions are equally vile ,and religion is the basis of these beliefs insane beliefs. All religions should be actively discouraged by our government and our educational system.

[RKP5637]

32. Yep, superstitious behavior, and the charlatans make millions off of the gullibility and

desperation of many people. Others use it for political gain, and others are control freaks getting off by dominating their flocks.

And others forced to believe the ridiculous nonsense and garbage. And many hoping there is somehow something better than the wretched lives they live or are forced to live.

Add it all up and it's exactly as you say ... Mostly vile and evil ... just the death, destruction, bigotry and persecution should be enough to cause people to wake the F up, but willful ignorance and stupidity run deep in US, the emerging land of Idiocracy.

That said, I think there are also many good religious people, but sadly I think they are often overrun by the crackpots and evil ones that flock toward religion, and those using it for their controlling personal advantage, political or otherwise.

[FiveGoodMen]

102. Yes. Agreed on all points.

[DefenseLawyer]

16. But to be fair, 40% of those surveyed were possessed by a demon at the time

That was bound to impact the results

[RiffRandell]

124. Haha!

That was funny!

[RiffRandell]

17. I'll get a ton of shit for this but I'm 43 and on the fence about them.

I watch A Haunting on Destination...they haven't been as good lately but the old ones on Discovery really scared me....especially ones with demons.

I'm not religious, so started doing research on them and they are fallen angels....that's what I find hard to swallow...if they even exist.

I'll just end this by saying I would never risk inviting them in...no weird rituals or Ouija Boards in our house.

Also, I believe one of the Hauntings was based on this book....which I've been debating ordering.

http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Connecticut-Gerald-Brittle/dp/0553237144/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383309348&sr=1-1&keywords=the+devil+in+connecticut

[KatyMan]

29. I like that show, and others like it

But I don't believe in ghosts or demons in the least. I just like a good ghost story

But, my to my point, I always find that the episodes of supposed 'demon possession' on that show were likely more in the realm of untreated mental illness rather than demons. I'm no doctor or anything, but if you hear voices in your head telling you to kill your wife, I would think Occam's Razor would tell you to visit a medical professional rather than your local podunk pastor.

[RiffRandell]

35. Thanks, and I agree with a lot of what you said

but there were 2 episodes that stood out to me where children were "possessed."

The kid kept talking to a man and using curse words that the mother claims he never heard before.

I don't know what to think, but it freaked me out.

[KatyMan]

38. It can be a freaky show...

probably because it's presented as being true, that's the fun I think. Honestly, even this confirmed unbeliever sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and gets spooked by shadows!

I don't recall the 2 episodes you mentioned.

I actually was a little bummed this October, there weren't as many ghost shows on. Either that or I completely missed them.

Enjoy your weekend Riff!

[FiveGoodMen]

104. Maybe a demon was possessing me, then.

When I was six I invented a word (while at school) just to express my frustration with some problem or other.

I blurted it out: "Fuck!"

"OOOOoooh! You swore!" said everyone else in the room.

"How could that be swearing? I just made it up," said I.

"You must have heard it somewhere," said my parents later on.


No, on balance, I think it was just a coincidence and not a demon.

[RiffRandell]

111. Nah, maybe just bad parenting.

I didn't start using the word "fuck" until about 13.

Cool story, tho!

[Niceguy1]

31. we have shamans

In our area and sone that stuff can be a bit scary.

[RKP5637]

40. If one delves into particle physics, where I spent a bit of my life, the universe

is far from really being understood ... thinking along the lines of parallel universes, string theory, folded space, multiple dimensions and the like. ... and brief dimensional intersections at boundaries, perhaps.

About 100 years ago many were grateful for indoor plumbing ... we have advanced, but not that far in the big picture. There is some weird sh** that goes on, now, I'm not saying I'm a demon believer and all, but open to the fact some things are strange and scary.

[RiffRandell]

63. Agree. nt

[Logical]

127. Explain "weird shit" with links. n-t

[RKP5637]

131. Here are some interesting things ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6546462/The-10-weirdest-physics-facts-from-relativity-to-quantum-physics.html

[bemildred]

136. Bell's theorem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell%27s_theorem

No physical theory of local hidden variables can ever reproduce all of the predictions of quantum mechanics.

[RKP5637]

138. Thanks, bemildred!

[bemildred]

139. My pleasure.

[yuiyoshida]

163. In Shinto there were several demons listed...

One has a kind of flip side, while known to drag children under the water, drowning them, also were known to posses healing powers. The name for this is Kappa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_%28folklore%29

I love reading up on Shinto.. and some of the tales told down though the ages are delicious. One can see why Japanese horror films are
so damn good!

[Art_from_Ark]

186. Don't forget the demons who hang around Shinto shrines

[yuiyoshida]

187. A cute blue critter....

Awesome! Does he have a name?

[Art_from_Ark]

188. His name's "Oni-ko"

and he hangs around the Sanja Shrine in Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture.

http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kensei/seisaku/tk_10_power.html#M19

[tabasco]

185. Well, life can be scary,

but only stupid idiots believe in demons.

[Niceguy1]

189. some of the nicest people

Would disagree with you. Many cultures around the world believe...even the native americans do, too.

[EOTE]

46. No shit from me.

I like to consider myself a fairly scientific person. As such, I tend to only believe in things I've seen scientific proof of. That being said, I think there is quite a bit that resides outside of the bounds of being tested by science today, though I think we might be getting closer to proving the existence of the paranormal, extra-sensory perception and such. We've been hamped by decades of science being afraid to tackle such issues for fear of being labeled quackery. Also, we've missed out on decades of scientific testing on entheogenic substances such as LSD, DMT and Psilocyn/Psilocybin because of their schedule 1 status. I think we're going to see a lot of things which were considered to be outside the realm of science being incorporated into the fold in the next few decades.

For the record, my answer to the question would have been 'no'.

[RKP5637]

52. That's what I was thinking too in my post #40. n/t

[EOTE]

73. Quantum mechanics is insanely interesting stuff.

Sure many people will dismiss out of hand anything which seems remotely paranormal. Most of them will also say that a particle can't also be a wave simultaneously. Or that a particle can't exist in more than one position simultaneously, but quantum superposition says that they can. There are so many utterly bizarre and fascinating aspects of our universe that extremely little would ever surprise me. I had a near death experience a few years ago and it was the most fantastic experience of my life. After that, the only thing that would utterly shock me is that reality is precisely what we think it is.

[RiffRandell]

120. Wow!

I'd like to hear about it...that stuff fascinates me too, but if you don't want to share it I totally understand.

[Logical]

126. Please point me to ONE psudo-science that has been proved. Just one. With a peer reviewed paper. nt

[EOTE]

143. How about hypnotism?

By you using that term, you're showing a bit of bias. I am not referring to pseudo science as I'm not referencing anything as scientific which doesn't pass scientific rigor. There are plenty of things which were once thought to reside outside the realm of science which are now scientific realities. Hypnotism as I mentioned above, but teleportation is another one that comes to mind. Just because science cannot currently explain something does not mean it doesn't exist. That's about as close minded a position as one could take.

[Logical]

145. I understand not all science can be explained......

But too may are accepted with no repeatable proof. ESP, Dowsing, Aliens, Etc.

Meteors were called fake for years. Then proved. I am fine with that.

Hypnotism is a weird one. People who don't believe in it cannot be hypnotized. Makes no sense.

[EOTE]

190. Surely there is loads of scientific ignorance in this country.

That doesn't mean that everything that is not known does not exist. I'll gently rib the late great Carl Sagan by saying "Absense of evidence is not evidence of absense". I think there's been enough scientific trials regarding dowsing to fully discredit it. Aliens? Not even close. We live in an unfathomably large universe, even our own galaxy is incomprehensibly big. Are you willing to say that there is ZERO chance of intelligent life in these billions of star systems? That seems like a rather close-minded viewpoint there. That's not to say that any or all UFO sightings have anything to do with actual alien life, but life is not restricted to just Earth, that just seems silly to me. Saying that aliens have been disproved is saying "I've analyzed every conceivable place in the universe and we're the only life that there is." Life will form wherever the conditions are right for it. To think that Earth is the only place in this vast universe which has life seems to me to be a belief associated with the religious fundamentalists, not those who value science.

[Logical]

192. Not one single alien or UFO sighting have been real aliens....

No one has been abducted!

Yes, I believe life exists on other planets.

But none of them have visited earth.

[EOTE]

193. How on earth would you know?

Making such blanket statements is incredibly scientific. You're saying that life exists on other planets (and due to the age of the universe, has probably existed for billions of years). There's no reason to believe that we're the technological apex of civilization either. If humans as we know them have been around as we know them for a few tens of thousands of years, there's no reason to believe that other civilizations haven't been around for much longer than us. We have no idea whether or not we've been visited. To claim that we know is the height of hubris.

[Logical]

195. No proof. What is your proof? List your best case. Journal reviewed. n-t

[EOTE]

196. You don't need any proof to day something might exist.

You do need at least a smidgen to support an assertion that something definitely doesn't exist.

[Logical]

197. Dumb logic. Prove Santa Clause is not real. n-t

[EOTE]

198. That's why it's usually rather foolish to attempt to prove a negative.

You made the claim that no alien life has made contact with earth, a statement like that should have at least a bit of evidence behind it to explain numerous UFO sightings which currently remain unexplained. Considering the high likelihood of intelligent life in our galaxy, perhaps there's a good reason we don't have direct proof of the existence of intelligent life beyond earth (Star Trek's Prime Directive comes to mind).

You are falling victim to fallacy of presumption, we all know the history of Santa as a cultural creation. On the other hand, we have every reason to believe that we're not alone in our galaxy. So it's not unreasonable to think we might have been visited at some point. To state definitively that it has never happened, I think a modicum of evidence should be provided.

[Logical]

199. The burden of proof are the ones saying aliens have visited earth. That simple. n-t

[EOTE]

200. Of course. But I'm not saying that and I think you know that.

I'm saying it might have happened, you're saying it definitely didn't. Like the people in your above statement "saying aliens have visited earth", YOU are making a definitive statement. My statement that it might have occurred is self apparent, your statement is immeasurably more narrow and hence requires at least a bit of evidence to accompany it. I'd have thought with your name you'd be a bit more familiar with how deductive arguments work.

[white_wolf]

72. I love that show.

The creepiest ones are always the demon episodes. The one where kid meets the spirit called Man is one of the creepiest. I didn't know it was still on. I'll have to try and find it.

[RiffRandell]

86. It was!

That and the house where Satanists previously lived there and the woman saw blood running down the walls.

They had a marathon running yesterday.

[RKP5637]

142. About what day/time do they generally come on. I watch Logo off and on, but never have

seen this. Thanks for any info. I find the good ones interesting to watch ... I'm a little off center anyway, LOL.

[RiffRandell]

147. It's on the Destination channel but you can pull them up

on demand. The older episodes are better; wiki has a list of them.

[RKP5637]

150. Thanks!!!

[Vashta Nerada]

81. You do know that those shows are edited to make things seem real, right?

I thought adults would realize this.

[RiffRandell]

87. No fucking shit.

I'm not that stupid, and cool insult.

[Vashta Nerada]

93. Your post made it seem you believed in supernatural creatures because of those shows.

[RiffRandell]

96. It's one show that has me questioning it.

If you read my previous posts I'm an agnostic. I don't believe in Bigfoot, Mothman, Dragons or Fairies. Have a nice weekend.

[Logical]

125. OK, I really hope you are joking. If not you really need to seek help. Ouija Boards? WTF......

they are made in China from cardboard.

[RKP5637]

141. Ouija Boards - LOL - I've got a couple of them here from way past, they just sit there,

and whenever we screwed around with them they did the same. ... had some workmen in the house once, one of them saw them on the shelf and just about ran to the other side of the room and started telling me how dangerous they are ... like WTF.

[Logical]

151. LOL, Takes all types I guess. n-t

[RiffRandell]

146. Nope, not joking.

Thanks for the advice "that I really need to seek help."

I knew I'd get a ton of shit, thanks for proving me right!

[Logical]

152. You deserve a load of shit. Unbelievable really. Sad for you. n-t

[RiffRandell]

156. C,mon, I think it's funny in as all my years on DU you're the angriest

anyone has gotten at me over... a Ouija Board!

[Logical]

157. I dont think you know how totally ridiculous it made you look. n-t

[RiffRandell]

158. No I do, I just don't really care.

I saw what I saw on the show and chose not to mess with them. My choice.

But thanks for pointing that out.

[awoke_in_2003]

174. I don't believe in Oija boards either...

but your anger is making you look ridiculous.

[think]

18. If there is no spirit world then there are no demons....

[RiffRandell]

19. Exactly.

That's what torments me. If I don't believe in Heaven, how can I believe in demons?

[think]

20. and vice versa perhaps..../nt

[bunnies]

62. "heaven" and "god" are not necessary for belief in spirits / ghosts.

Believing that energy lingers in some form after death doesnt have to be religious.

[RiffRandell]

65. You're right.

I was more thinking about from what I've read, demons are fallen angels that have been kicked out of Heaven.

[bunnies]

69. Yeah. I think its the word. "Demon".

Sounds all biblical. Could just be a really pissed off ghost. Who knows though. Im an agnostic.

[RiffRandell]

71. Well, I appreciate your input and for years

have considered myself agnostic (and still do) as well.

[MindPilot]

25. There is a cabinet in my house devoted exclusively to the spirit world.

Therein is contained vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila...

[think]

27. What? No demon rum? I stand corrected...

[RiffRandell]

42. Funny! nt

[RKP5637]

50. ...

[winter is coming]

21. They believe in demon possession? Wow, I guess young Americans _are_ following politics. n/t

[spanone]

22. television.

[hatrack]

23. Gresham's Mental Law - Bad Thinking Drives Out Good . . . .

You also wonder how much this is an artifact of bits and pieces of evangelical Christian "teaching" left behind in the brains of those who have grown up and no longer regularly attend church.

[sibelian]

24. Well so do I.

.... in the context of the use of the word "Demon" as a metaphor for twisted, unhealthy emotional processes that are nevertheless sufficiently within the ordinary parameters of human society and thus "fly under the radar" and are never discovered to be possessive of the self and self-destructive.

I'm not sure if that's what they meant, though.

[Walk away]

26. I was all excited when my college roommate told me she didn't believe in a god.

How great to room with a fellow atheist until...she told me she believed that aliens from outer space colonized Earth.

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. Well Panspermia is back in fashion

[Walk away]

112. She was more like "Alf" and "ET" than Cosmic Ancestry. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

113. I know, but it was funny

And technically it is alien. ELF, extraterrestrial Life Form.



And thanks for the laugh

[BlueJazz]

30. I believe it. These "Demons" and "Devils" come inside me at night..when I'm watching a good TV show.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. Heck, my son believes in the Illuminati because he's young and impressionable.

I "believed" in "demonic possession" in my younger years, and then I grew up.

I would imagine that, had they done this survey in the 80s, the results would be the same. People grow up.

[haele]

36. I believe in possessions by the ego. Close enough to demons.

There's a lot of lizard brain emotional reactions roiling around just behind the sewer access in our subconscious. As a function of "self esteem", part of the most comfortable mental denial process would in putting a reference around those urges and thoughts and call them demons.

Unfortunately for those who practice that sort of mental hygiene, most demons are self-created, not external. Telling the self-deluding to put a leash on their own demons when they walk them in public doesn't help one bit if they think they're not responsible for their own actions.

Haele

[marmar]

37. Maybe it's all these zombie films and TV shows.

[RKP5637]

59. +++ 1,000 +++ n/t

[bhikkhu]

39. Every other TV show is demons, zombies, ghosts, supernatural, etc

...a whole underclass of well-entertained idiots is created.

[RKP5637]

57. As America continues the path to full Idiocracy! n/t

[bhikkhu]

68. Although, an Idiocracy of choice, as intelligence is not generally a heritable characteristic

as in - every human child born has many more neurons available for development than are necessary. The process of growing up involves the paring down and making efficient of that mental volume, and the creation of the connections necessary for the environment one lives in.

Any pair of backward fundies could generate a Pauling, a Watson, a Reimann, or whoever, given the environmental opportunity. I don't really think belief in ghosts (or not) is necessary an indicator of potential, though its not an encouraging sign...but it will be interesting to see how the electronic age we are beginning effects brain development.

I spent my youth reading books, packing-in everything I thought necessary, while my kids are more prone to plinking away at their devices. The level of mental activity may be the same, and I had an interesting conversation with my older daughter the other day - who thought it was so much less important to learn a lot of things, as it was all just a click away on the internet anyway. We'll see.

[Humanist_Activist]

170. I don't blame the shows, they are just entertainment, I would say many people...

lack critical thinking skills to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Personally I love a good supernatural film or tv show, because I want to suspend my disbelief for a brief moment in time and escape reality for a while. But I also return to reality after I watch it as well.

[CanSocDem]

41. Another of the 1,000 nics...

...that will eventually fell the human spirit.

Take enough power away from the individual and assign blame to an outside force and you have another 'customer'.

Making good consumers takes time. How different is this group from those who believe they are possessed by "the holy spirit" ??? If the individual has no sense of self-worth they can be made to believe anything.


.

[Beearewhyain]

45. Something that has always confused me about the

folks who believe in this nonsense is that they are almost always in the "tough on crime" crowd. The problem being that if you really do believe that someone can be possessed and thus lose control over your decision making process then how can you be held accountable for those actions?

To say that, for these people, the world is a confusing and self contradicting place barely scratches the surface.

[PasadenaTrudy]

48. Pop culture?

Zombies, vampires? Idiocracy.

[Trillo]

51. What else does a police state teach?

You must have a demon in you to get hassled like that.

This is not a snark.

[RKP5637]

60. Interesting observation!!!

[MisterP]

107. oh, like Stalin?

[Drale]

53. Before you dismiss something off hand remember that as much as we like to think we do

we do not know everything, far from it. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
-Hamlet What some people call demons might be something bleeding through from another universe or dimension. You can not know, whats out there or how peoples minds work. The fact is ghosts and demons exist in almost every culture on earth, similar stories evolved thousands of miles apart with no contact between creators. You may think people are crazy for believing in Ghosts but they think your just as crazy for ignoring an entire part of culture and our world because you've never experienced anything. The point of this is, if they are not hurting anyone or trying to change laws so that they hurt someone just leave people to believe what they will.

[flamingdem]

64. great quote!

exactly, we don't know everything about the universe we inhabit.

[Logical]

128. They have a right to believe it......

I have a right to question their proof.

People believe in slavery at some point and used the bible to justify it. Doe not mean it is OK.

[Silent3]

171. Not knowing is simply that, not knowing.

Last edited Sun Nov 3, 2013, 03:41 PM - Edit history (1)

"Not knowing" does not mean "therefore all superstitious beliefs deserve serious consideration!"

Our ignorance is huge, but demons and ghosts are not at all likely items for filling our voids of understanding.

[Avalux]

54. Remember the Salem witch trials?

They happened because the populace was ignorant and afraid; they believed what they were told because they were not able to think critically.

Some may not believe our society can devolve into that state again with all the technology at our disposal, but that technology actually feeds ignorance unless people can sift through the doss of nonsense. Science and logic are poo-pooed on a daily basis and replaced by hysteria everywhere we turn.

[RKP5637]

61. Well said! Group think combined with Idiocracy can produce horrific events. n/t

[lunasun]

91. The stupid is here and now

The devil made us do it!!!

[RKP5637]

108. Yep, as Flip Wilson said. n/t

[RiffRandell]

121. Damn, I should have used that excuse whn I got into trouble as a teen with

my Catholic parents!

[Brigid]

153. Did they make you go to Confession?

[RiffRandell]

155. No.

If they did I probably would have lied anyway.

I was the youngest of 5, so I think they were just tired so I never went confession or got confirmed and then stopped going to church.

My Mom left the church several years ago.

[leftyladyfrommo]

55. Well, look at the movies that are hugely popular right now.

They are all about all kinds of fantasy stuff. Young people like to believe in other worldly powers. I know I did.

[Rex]

58. How is that becoming less religious? Demons and devils are part

of the Christian bestiary.

[leftstreet]

88. +1

[LiberalAndProud]

66. Proof that there are prophets, I suppose.

[flamingdem]

67. Demons no

but entities that aren't so easy to explain away have been popping up for eons. If anyone has seen a possession ceremony a la santeria or similar there are things that defy explanation. It might be in the category of human capacities and connections that go beyond what can be quantified by science for the moment.

[IdaBriggs]

70. Demon Possession: As good an explanation for Tea Party People as any other.

[muriel_volestrangler]

74. I think a question planted in the middle of a Halloween poll about zombies and movies

is not a reliable way of deciding if people really think possession by demons is possible.

Here's the questions before it:
"Would you be willing to spend the night in a
house that people said was haunted?"

"What do you think is the scariest monster:
zombies, werewolves, vampires, Frankenstein,
mummies, ghosts, witches, or something else?"

"If you were turned into a monster, would you
rather be turned into a vampire, a werewolf, a
zombie, a witch, or something else?"

The entire questionnaire is about having fun pretending to believe in this stuff. So I think a lot of people have got swept up in the fun. And that may explain why the youngest age group, who watch most movies, were the ones to reply like that the most.

From 2005, we have:

The poll shows that 42% of Americans believe that "people on this earth are sometimes possessed by the devil." However, it is unclear how many people treat that statement literally, and how many interpret it in metaphorical terms. Thus, for purposes of this analysis, that item was excluded.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/16915/three-four-americans-believe-paranormal.aspx

So the 57% from this poll looks way more than those who meant it literally back in 2005.

Ah - here's a recent poll, without the Halloween theme:

Do you believe someone can be possessed by the devil or some other evil spirit?
Overall: 51%; 18-29: 50%

http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/vhyn6fdnkp/tabs_exorcism_0912132013%20(1).pdf

Still worryingly high, but lower than the Halloween-influenced results.

[ZombieHorde]

183. Aha! nt

[davidn3600]

75. Im not religious, but I do believe in ghosts and the paranormal

I dont really believe in demons. But there is no question that we do not fully understand this universe and how it works.

Ghost sightings go back to ancient times. This isn't some recent pop culture thing.

[RKP5637]

144. ... like thinking back to the discovery of electricity and other events ... there is a lot

we have yet to learn, an awful lot.

[mzmolly]

76. Good

grief.

[bluedeathray]

77. It's America's reading comprehension that's slipping...

They thought the question said Jamie Dimon.

[Vashta Nerada]

78. What the hell is wrong with those people?

"Demon possession"?



Next, I'm going to see an article where two-thirds of 18-29-year-olds believe in Santa Claus.

[mainstreetonce]

80. I hate to say this

...but when the Harry Potter books became so popular some were concerned about the influence of witches etc on children.
It does appear that the Potter generation grew up to want TV, movies. etc,,all entertainment involved with the supernatural.

[RedCappedBandit]

83. no stranger than the notion of gods imo

[msanthrope]

84. Stevie said it best.....

&sa=X&ei=ls9zUtyMM7TasASj9IGABQ&ved=0CAsQqwQ

[Mz Pip]

85. Wishful thinking

Sorry folks but our lives will never be as filled with as much excitement as Sookie Stackhouse or Buffy's are. We'll never get to carry around all the guns we want and blow the heads off of Walkers. We will never be able to shapeshift or wander around in another plane.

The idea of a world filled with scary things to shoot is just a fantasy. Wishing won't make it so. Neither will believing it.

[Coyotl]

90. Where is this poll? A search of the Public Policy Polling site finds nothing.

And the article you cite does not show the poll either.

[pinboy3niner]

95. Well, isn't that just...

[xchrom]

100. Miracles and the Supernatural

http://www.pewforum.org/2008/06/01/chapter-1-religious-beliefs-and-practices/

The Landscape Survey finds that belief in miracles and supernatural phenomena are widespread among U.S. adults. Nearly eight-in-ten adults (79%), including large majorities of most religious traditions, believe that miracles still occur today as in ancient times. More than eight-in-ten members of evangelical (88%) and historically black (88%) churches, Catholics (83%) and Mormons (96%) agree that miracles still occur today.

However, relatively narrow majorities of Jews and the unaffiliated express belief in miracles, and among Jehovah’s Witnesses, only about a third (30%) believe in miracles. In fact, nearly half of all Jehovah’s Witnesses (48%) say that they completely disagree with the statement that miracles occur today as in ancient times.

Two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) believe that angels and demons are active in the world. Significant majorities of members of Christian traditions agree with this statement, including about nine-in-ten members of historically black and evangelical Protestant churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

Less than half of Buddhists and Hindus, and less than a quarter of Jews, say angels and demons are active in the world. Although relatively few atheists and agnostics believe in angels and demons, nearly a third of the secular unaffiliated (29%) and more than two-thirds of the religious unaffiliated (68%) believe angels and demons are active in the world.

[rrneck]

94. Can't fight evolution. nt

[davidn3600]

98. Evolution doesn't disprove the possible existance of a higher power

Evolution only threatens the stories of the Bible...an ancient text written by man. Evolution doesn't change the fact that a God could exist.

[rrneck]

99. People evolved to believe in something.

It doesn't matter what.

[NuttyFluffers]

97. they took a mere glance at modern politics?

[Chrom]

106. that was my first thought

They are trying to understand a world where our problems could easily be solved by raising taxes on the incredibly wealthy who will barely notice...

and instead they are watching millions of fellow Americans go homeless (have their homes stolen illegally with no justice)

millions of Americans are starving meanwhile watching get their pittance in food stamps get cut even further

while the pentagon burns up the same amount on a few weeks in Afghanistan...

How else do you explain the incredible disdain that so many in our government show for humanity?

Dick Cheney made me believe in the devil, and now I too am starting to believe that demons, the devil's minions are everywhere

What kind of 'people' actively seek to harm humanity, people that knowingly dump toxic chemicals in the water suppy all over the US (otherwise known as fracking)... people like the Koch Brothers who obviously do not need the money, but spend their old age ruining the earth for generations to come.

[MADem]

101. They've been watching too many teeny-tweeny vampire movies, and they're immature little farts.

They say that a child's brain doesn't mature until 25 or so. Perhaps all these plastics and additives associated with foodstuffs and the environment have slowed them down, too. I do know that parents infantalize even kids in college--I'm rather surprised at how much "hovering" some parents do wth their junior year college children. My parents didn't fuss over me like that in grammar school!

When you treat a young adult as a child, they tend to act the part. And hey, demons are fashionable lately--in "anime" and video games and movies, etc.

[polichick]

103. On a similar note, what's with all the zombies? I don't get the appeal.

[RKP5637]

148. Thanks for asking this, I've been wondering too, like WTF. n/t

[Silent3]

105. There's got to be some sort of internal conflict within those who say they believe these things...

...because despite what this poll is say, it seems pretty clear to me that outside of fire-breathing fundy circles, people ranting about demons causing this and that problem, about needing to "cast out demons", etc., are generally regarded as charlatans, idiots, or crazy people.

All I can figure is that these two-thirds people want to allow for the possibility, some must think these things happen from time to time, but most are still skeptical enough that they certainly aren't ready to accept demon possession as a real explanation for much of anything.

[One_Life_To_Give]

109. The neighbors dog is one

he told me so. Now where did I leave my 44.

[KamaAina]

110. What's wrong with DePaul basketball getting the ball every now and again?

[xchrom]

116. it's cool -- as long as it's the blue devils who win...

[KamaAina]

117. Ssssssssssss!

[liberal_at_heart]

114. as long as they don't try and make legislation about ghosts I don't care what they believe.

I believe people should be allowed to believe whatever they want as long as they are not trying to impose those beliefs on others.

[Posteritatis]

118. Leaving aside polling issues, at least that's a novel "OMG kids these days suck!" angle for once. nt

[donheld]

119. It's true. They're called Republicans.

[stevenleser]

122. Is it from religion, or one too many Zombie/Vampire movies though?

[jberryhill]

129. And yet, itself evidence of its possible existence

How else can you explain such widely-held claptrap?

[Zorra]

132. The sustained dumbing down of America by the 1% is taking its toll on the minds of young people.

[ancianita]

134. The survey just shows that many harmful images still linger in those who leave childhood religion.

Let's face it. This survey is part of the Halloween awareness cycle that gauges public awareness of things unseen. I don't think it's any big deal. What's happening to America, in my view, is the internalizing of the imagery of evil to replace rejected theocratic notions of heaven/hell. Words like 'demon' and 'demonic' are borrowed words to describe what they see around them.

People are attracted to knowing about death, the omega, insanity, evil and other unknowns. Death and evil are realities. Perhaps, without aid of religious dogma, the surveyed here see 'demons' as a way to describe the dark sides of 'reality,' used as a way to train their fears away from feeling paralyzed or dysfunctional, and moral, independent of religious mythology. In other words, the use of these words is likely just part of a number of psychological defense mechanisms.

They probably conflate the known presence of evils in society with film/TV images of horror/crime images and language that they're awash in, that's all. That's my interpretation of these results, anyway. I'd say it's pretty harmless.

[nashville_brook]

135. Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches: The Riddles of Culture -- by Marvin Harris

http://www.amazon.com/Cows-Pigs-Wars-Witches-ebook/dp/B00570A2ZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383404368&sr=8-1&keywords=pigs+witches

This book shows that economic pressures tend to determine the beliefs -- the crazy beliefs -- that people hold. It's a breezy read... a little outdated in terms of cultural reference, but the basic argument is still interesting.

[bemildred]

137. +1. "Our Kind" is good too.

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Kind-Where-Came-Going/dp/0060919906

[gopiscrap]

140. yeah it's called republicanism

[Douglas Carpenter]

149. if there is no demon possession - how do you explain people having dirty, horrible thoughts that

torment peoples' minds and drive them all the way to heinous acts of self-abuse? drive

[Blue_In_AK]

154. For proof, look no further than Ted Cruz.

[kestrel91316]

159. In 50 years we will be right up there with Iran in the religious insanity department.

[minivan2]

160. On behalf of all 18-29 year olds

I apologize.

[gopiscrap]

162. welcome to DU

[handmade34]

165. that's ok...

I've spent plenty of time apologizing for the foibles of old white people

[Taitertots]

168. We're sorry

[libdem4life]

172. Ouch, but entertaining. I have one of those.

[Zorra]

176. If they stopped whining long enough to get out in the street and change things,

they'd have an excellent case.

At least they didn't add demons, or being possessed by demons, to the list of those who were responsible for all their problems, and that's a good sign, for sure.

Both my kids are milennials. I tried my best to teach my kids as many common sense living skills as I could, down how to get food from a dumpster clean a toilet, and clean a trout. Neither grew up with a television, or played video games. They both grew up in the country, and have a "hippie" and musician background. Both are happy, healthy, and doing just fine, and neither of them have needed or wanted to come live with me after they left home, although my door is always open. Neither of them would ever even think to cop out and blame others (other than conservatives for what they do to the country), for the difficulties they encounter in their lives.

And they don't believe in demons.

Unsolicited advice for young people: We all have our own shit we have to deal with. If you blame everyone else in the world except yourself for your problems, you'll never solve the problems.

Shit happens to everyone. Sniveling doesn't fix it.

[Taitertots]

178. LOL, They never blame other people, except when they are blaming other people.

"Neither of them would ever even think to cop out and blame others (other than conservatives for what they do to the country), for the difficulties they encounter in their lives. "
The part in parenthesis fundamentally invalidates the whole sentence. You just admitted that they blame other people for the difficulties they encounter in their lives.


Oh, just in case you missed. Hundreds of thousands (if not millions) occupied almost every major city for months (OWS). Don't let the masses of Millennials that are fighting against the system they inherited stop you from a good old "Get off my lawn" rant.

[Zorra]

181. I was right there in the street with them. I have nothing but complete respect for those kids.

But those Occupy kids were very different from the kids in that video.

Instead of sitting at home and whining about their parents, Occupy kids actually did something, and I feel sincerely honored to have Occupied with them, they have real heart, and real courage.

So please, get the fuck off my lawn unless you are carrying a sign that says "We are the 99%".

[Taitertots]

191. I think it is presumptuous to assume that you know anything about the people in the video

You just watched a brief video and assumed that they never do anything but complain.
Also...
There is nothing wrong with airing just grievances. I doubt Occupy would have even started if it wasn't for people sitting in their basements complaining about the REAL problems they face.

Your millennial children that blame other people (Conservatives, they deserve it) are doing exactly what the young adults in the video were doing. Or did you forget about how Conservatives enacted all the policies that ruined the economy before they were old enough to do anything about it.

[Iggo]

161. Fucking morons.

[hrmjustin]

164. I remember a girl they Brought to JPII who they say had a demon. He could not get the demon out.

When she was brought back home the local priest tried to get the demon out but the child said I went to the big guy the other day, what make you think you can get rid of me. True story.

[miyazaki]

166. The demon haunted world Sagan warned about.

Sad to read it here everyday from DU'ers. And many who thumb their nose
at well respected/established science just to cling to superstitious fraud,
doomsday soothsayer whacks. Quite a few of these kingpins in the energy/environment
forums. You could have every nobel prize winning physicist shoveling the truth down
their throat and they still wouldn't swallow.

[seattle15]

177. I want to tell them to go sit on a pew

[Warren DeMontague]

179. They don't call me Warren DEMON-tague for nothin'.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

180. Maybe too much shitty heavy metal? Too many fantasy horror shows?

I think the whole goth/heavy metal scene is stupid and childish but I'm an old fogey. Blood, guts, death, zombies, vampires--yeah, I can see why they believe it when they immerse themselves in negative death-obsessed shit. I'm careful about what I watch or listen to.


What they think are demons are probably multiple personality disorder--where another personality comes out and talks when the person is in a stressful situation. That's called dissociation. As in the old movie "The Three Faces of Eve". The famous case of Sybil is now considered to have been exaggerated and expanded by her psychiatrist and the book author to make it a more compelling story.

[tritsofme]

182. How many of these 18-29 year olds heard such a ridiculous question and couldn't help but ironically

answer in the affirmative? That would more conform to my experiences with members of this age group.

[brooklynite]

194. I find it interesting that there's such a long discussion over a survey more than a year old...

[Arugula Latte]

201. Demons, angels, gods, fairies, leprechauns, pixies, immortal Jesus, immortal Mohammed ...

You name it, it's all superstitious supernatural nonsense.

[defacto7]

202. It's easier to change your conscious logic

than to change thousands of years of mythological practice. That has bound to have made some genetic changes in our brains' evolution. People do "think" they see and hear things all the time and those things are very real to them. Others around them may want to see what they see, and it's a rather regular human characteristic to play along to the point of actually thinking you do see or hear those things when you actually do not. People in social groups that have strong rules or social boundaries don't want to be left out of the pack and being left out can be the biggest tool of those in control.

We need to practice reason, logic and facts... that practice can finally become a truth that helps distinguish the difference between reality and myth... then the demons and visions will disappear... and that would be the best thing that could happen to humanity.

[ellenfl]

203. what is happening to america? zombies? eom