Precautions - Avoiding Extraordinary Demonization 

Introduction

There are many causes of demonization and we will not attempt to list every possible one on this page.  Rather, we will be focusing on the more common causes of extraordinary demonization - including demonization of persons in the form of possession, serious oppression, infestations of homes or places and generational curses and hauntings.  By and large, the reasons for these types of extraordinary demonic activities are caused by divination and the occult or involvement with those who practice divination and the occult.  Unrepentant personal sin is another leading cause of demonization, but we will not be dealing with that subject here. The following scripture passage is the foundation for this writing:

Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead.  Anyone who does these things is an abomination to the Lord..." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12. NAB, St. Joseph Edition).

Before we continue, it will be useful here to define "ordinary demonic activity" and "extraordinary demonic activity" Ordinary activity is that which we all experience in our lives.  We can summarize ordinary activity in one word - Temptation.  Not every temptation comes directly from the enemy; man is quite capable of doing evil without even the slightest prompting from outside of himself.  However, having said that, sometimes temptations do come from outside of us - "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12, ASB).

Extraordinary demonic activity is exactly as it sounds - going beyond that which is ordinary.  This classification includes possession, demonic infestations of homes and places, and generational curses and hauntings.

Some Essential Definitions

OCCULT - The word occult means "Hidden from view; concealed."  It is also defined as "Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomenon."  Here we will be using the first definition since it deals with the word "occult" in a broad sense (hidden from view; concealed). 

DIVINATION - Divination is, "The art or act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of augury or an alleged supernatural agency" (emphasis added).

ABOMINATION - The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence; detestation; loathing.

EXTRAORDINARY - Beyond what is ordinary or usual. Highly exceptional; remarkable.

"Abomination to the Lord"

Some specific examples (not intended to be a complete list) of modern-day practices that qualify as being abominations to the Lord, because they attempt to reveal what is hidden (occult) by an alleged supernatural agency (divination), are:

Please note that not all hauntings, infestations, or demonic attachments are caused by the above listed activities. Some spirits (both human and otherwise) are already present when, for instance, you move into a new home. Others (evil ones) can be the result of a curse, or can be the result of the activities of prior residents of a place. In addition, in certain extraordinary circumstances, God may allow a person to be demonized for their own salvation or spiritual growth.

What the Church Says

The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" deals with this subject in the section on the first commandment (You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me) under the title "Divination and Magic."

2115. God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility. 

2116. All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to 'unveil' the future.[Cf. Deut 18:10 ; Jer 29:8 .] Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

2117. All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion.  These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.

What if I do these things?

At this point you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. "How can these things be so bad, and what can happen to me?" you might ask.  In fact, you may know someone who has played the Ouija board, has been going to psychics for years, reads their daily horoscope, etc., and who has experienced no ill effects.  Perhaps you yourself have done these things. You may argue that this proves that we are wrong and you are right - that there is nothing but myth surrounding this whole issue of 'demons' and 'devils.' We in the deliverance ministry, however, look at it this way: You, and people like you, are (for now, at least) fortunate.

It may surprise you to learn, however, that the people who practice these forbidden things are not "out of the woods" just yet. Sometimes it can take many years for problems to develop. Sometimes problems will not develop at all. Sometimes the problems start with the individual's children, perhaps even after the children are grown and have families of their own. We will talk about this in a moment when we speak of generational curses and hauntings, but first we will give a few samples of what these "harmless games" have done for those who have wittingly or unwittingly "played" them.

Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night after having your bed covers ripped from atop of you? Or, how about having your pillow snatched from under your head while you sleep? Or, can you imagine being pushed down a staircase by an invisible force? All of these things, and many more, can and do happen in violent hauntings that are the result of occult involvment. Here are some other examples:

• Being bitten
• Being slapped
• Being punched
• Being thrown
• Objects hurled through the air
• People being hit by flying objects
• Fires mysteriously starting in the home
• Drywall being torn out in chunks
• Beds shaking and 'jumping' up and down
• Heavy objects thrown or moved (i.e., dressers, tables)
• Doors slamming shut
• Seeing black shapes
• Hearing voices
• Hearing growling

As we pointed out before, all of these things do happen in violent hauntings and this is but a very short list. There are many more, and some far more terrifying and brutal than what we have chosen to list here.

Brothers and sisters, we hope that you can now see that these "games" are deadly serious; not only for you, but also for your children, and potentially their children and so on through many generations.

Generational Curses and Hauntings

God punishes sin. This is a fact. Many do not realize, though, that this punishment can extend to our children and beyond - especially when we are dealing with things that are ABOMINATIONS in God's sight. Consider the following passage from Exodus:

God is so Holy and sin is so offensive to Him - so much so that the sins of the father fall not only on the father, but on his progeny. Is it any wonder, then, why generational hauntings and curses are a reality?

Yet, God is also merciful - He is mercy itself - and will deliver those who are generationally haunted and cursed if they but turn to Him and ask forgiveness for their sins, and the sins of their ancestors, and decide to live a holy life pleasing to Him.

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord 's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts." (Psalm 103:17)

"And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him" (Luke 1:50)

If you want to remain in God's mercy, and if you want to bring blessings on your children, then choose to live a life pleasing to God. If you have engaged in occult practices at any point in your life, you need to repent. If you are Catholic, you need to confess these sins to a priest and receive absolution. It is also important to reclaim ground claimed by Satan by our involvement in these things.

Below are a few prayers, located on the Spiritual Warfare Prayers page of the Legion of St. Michael website, that you can pray if your situation warrants them:

Prayer Of Confession And Taking Back Ground From Satan
Prayer After Confession To Re-Claim Ground Taken By Satan
Prayer Of Renunciation Of Ancestral Sins
Renunciation Of Satan and Claiming the Full Victory

Final Thoughts

Deliverance counselors and professionals in this field resoundingly agree:  Divination and involvement in the occult is one of the more common causes of extraordinary demonization - both of persons and of places.  If you do not want to be plagued by the enemy, don't play in his sandbox.  If you do, you will get sand between your toes.

In this page we have listed several concrete examples of occult practices and what can happen to those who dabble in them.  These are only a few of the things that can cause demonization even when one has done them only out of curiosity. A playful and innocent indulgence at a Carnival can potentially cause years of nightmare.

Another interesting phenomenon that we have heard from some individuals seeking to justify their actions is along these lines, "Well, this person is not a 'psychic'.  He/she is a Christian and lives a very holy life."  Brothers and sisters, believe us when we say that the Gifts of the Spirit, given by God for the building up of the Body of Christ (the Church) are not powers that we can turn on and off.  They are driven by the will of God - not ours.  A person who claims that they give psychic readings from God on demand is not of God.  They are either charlatans or their power comes from the enemy.