So, where do Christians stand on the many exorcisms that Jesus performed within the New Testament?
Several questions come to mind. Do Christians believe the people written about in the NT were genuinely possessed by evil demons? My reading of the bible is that these are not allegorical or metaphorical tales of morality, but rather straightforward examples of Jesus' power. If possessions are genuine occurances, why do they not happen any more? Is it not more reasonable to assume that Jesus was "casting out demons" from the frail and most likely, mentally ill? Why did Jesus not know this? Are the Stories just made up? In which case, why believe any other narratives within the NT?
If you don't accept possessions by evil demons, then why follow Jesus - who clearly did. Would the son of God make such a mistake?
The famous one is the account in 3 gospels of him in Gadarenes casting out the demons from two men into nearby pigs, who then willingly drown themselves.
These are obviously overt supernatural claims, (and in this case dubious morality as well).
No doubt these questions have come up before, and there's likely well prepared apologetics on the subject, however I'd be interested to hear what people (particularly Christians) think.
Several questions come to mind. Do Christians believe the people written about in the NT were genuinely possessed by evil demons? My reading of the bible is that these are not allegorical or metaphorical tales of morality, but rather straightforward examples of Jesus' power. If possessions are genuine occurances, why do they not happen any more? Is it not more reasonable to assume that Jesus was "casting out demons" from the frail and most likely, mentally ill? Why did Jesus not know this? Are the Stories just made up? In which case, why believe any other narratives within the NT?
If you don't accept possessions by evil demons, then why follow Jesus - who clearly did. Would the son of God make such a mistake?
The famous one is the account in 3 gospels of him in Gadarenes casting out the demons from two men into nearby pigs, who then willingly drown themselves.
These are obviously overt supernatural claims, (and in this case dubious morality as well).
No doubt these questions have come up before, and there's likely well prepared apologetics on the subject, however I'd be interested to hear what people (particularly Christians) think.
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Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
