December 21st, 2007
Blog Entry 6/14/07: Demonology: The 21st Century and You
Thursday, June 14, 2007

With a resurgence of cinematic demonic plot lines, not seen since the days of ‘The Exorcist’… the 21st Century seems renewed with a belief in demons. Demon (or Daemon) is commonly depicted as a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, and in Christian terms it generally understood as an angel not following God.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon) The word daemon in Greek can also refer to a secondary divinity with God. Which brings me to this point, if belief in demonology is becoming a more and more common facet of the american sub-culture, is that only because theology has laid the groundwork? For to have belief in demons (on an ethereal level) would mean to hold belief in one or more Gods or Goddesses. Wherein does any factual or semi-factual information lie with this topic of discussion? I know that is a hard line to see, because for most people, we want to hold fast in our faith and believe this all has a purpose. If we take a look at it from a cultural view, I believe (do not quote me) that the first idioms of having a duality in life and the afterlife as a mainstreamed scripture came from the Zoroastrian Religion.

Basic beliefs
There is one universal and transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, the one uncreated Creator and to whom all worship is ultimately directed.
Ahura Mazda’s creation - evident as asha, truth and order - is the antithesis of chaos, evident as druj, falsehood and disorder. The resulting conflict involves the entire universe, including humanity, which has an active role to play in the conflict.
Active participation in life through good thoughts, good words and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep the chaos at bay. This active participation is a central element in Zoroaster’s concept of free will, and Zoroastrianism rejects all forms of monasticism.
Ahura Mazda will ultimately prevail, at which point the universe will undergo a cosmic renovation and time will end (Zoroastrian eschatology). In the final renovation, all of creation - even the souls of the dead that were initially banished to “darkness” - will be (re)united in God.
In Zoroastrian tradition, the malevolent is represented by Angra Mainyu, the “Destructive Principle”, while the benevolent is represented through Ahura Mazda’s Spenta Mainyu, the instrument or “Bounteous Principle” of the act of creation. It is through Spenta Mainyu that Ahura Mazda is immanent in humankind, and through which the Creator interacts with the world. According to Zoroastrian cosmology, in articulating the Ahuna Vairya formula, Ahura Mazda made his ultimate triumph evident to Angra Mainyu.
As expressions and aspects of Creation, Ahura Mazda emanated six “sparks”, the Amesha Spentas, “Bounteous Immortals” that are each the hypostasis and representative of one aspect of that Creation. These Amesha Spenta are in turn assisted by a league of lesser principles, the Yazatas, each “Worthy of Worship” and each again a hypostasis of a moral or physical aspect of Creation.

VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE TOPIC OF THEOLOGY ARE THAT OF THE WRITER’S AND ARE BY NO MEANS MEANT TO OFFEND OR DISMISS ANY AND ALL RELIGIONS/SECTS.

Many other civilizations throughout history have versions of demonic folklore:

A
Aamon (Christian demonology)
Abaddon (Christian demonology)
Abalam (Christian demonology)
Adramelech (Assyrian mythology)
Af (Jewish mythology)
Agaliarept (Jewish mythology)
Agares (Christian demonology)
Agiel (Jewish mythology)
Ahriman (a.k.a. Angra Mainyu) (Zoroastrianism)
Aim (Christian demonology)
Akvan (Persian demonology)
Alal (Chaldean mythology)
Alastor (Christian demonology)
Alloces (Christian demonology)
Allu (Akkadian mythology)
Amaymon (Christian demonology)
Amdusias (Christian demonology)
Ammut (Egyptian mythology)
Anamalech (Assyrian mythology)
Anzu (Sumerian mythology)
Amon (Christian demonology)
Amy (Christian demonology)
Andhaka (Hindu mythology)
Andras (Christian demonology)
Andrealphus (Christian demonology)
Andromalius (Christian demonology)
Antichrist (Christian demonology)
Apep (a.k.a. Apophis) (Egyptian mythology)
Apollyon (Christian demonology)
Armaros (Christian demonology)
Asag (Sumerian mythology)
Asb’el (Jewish mythology)
Asmodeus (Persian mythology, Jewish folklore and Christian demonology)
Astaroth (Christian demonology)
Astarte (Semitic mythology)
Asura (Hindu mythology)
Azazel (Jewish demonology)
Azhi Dahaka (Zoroastrianism)

B
Baal (Christian demonology)
Baal shamem (Caananite mythology)
Bagat (Shape-shifting demon from the Philippines)
Balam (Christian demonology)
Balberith (Jewish demonology)
Bali Raj (Hindu mythology)
Baphomet (Demon, or image/idol thereof)
Barbas (Christian demonology)
Barbatos (Christian demonology)
Bartimaeus (Literature, Stroud)
Bathin (Christian demonology)
Beelzebub (Jewish demonology, Christian demonology)
Behemoth (Jewish demonology)
Beherit (Phoenecian mythology)
Belial (Jewish demonology, Christian demonology)
Beleth (Christian demonology)
Belphegor (Christian demonology)
Berith (Christian demonology)
Bifrons (Christian demonology)
Biule (Romanian mythology)
Botis (Christian demonology)
Buer (Christian demonology)
Bune (Christian demonology)

C
Caacrinolaas (Christian demonology)
Caim (Christian demonology)
Cerberus (Greek mythology and Roman mythology)
Charun (Etruscan mythology)
Chemosh (Moabite mythology)
Chimera (Greek mythology)
Cho Cho (Buddhist demonology)
Chupacabra (Latin American mythology)
Cimejes (Christian demonology)
Corson (Christian demonology)
Crocell (Christian demonology)
Culsu (Etruscan mythology)

D
Dagon (Semitic mythology)
Dahaka (Perisan demonology)
Damon (unknown)
Dantalion (Christian demonology)
Danjal (Jewish mythology)
Dasa (Hindu mythology)
Decarabia (Christian demonology)
Deicide (Egyptian demonology)
Demogorgon (Christian demonology)
Drekavac (Slavic mythology)
Dumah (Jewish demonology)
Donn (Irish mythology)
Dominic(christian mythology)
Dmitryus (Christian mythology)
Damien (Christian mythology)

E
Eligos (Christian demonology)
Empusa (Greek mythology)
Etrigan (DC comics)
Euryale (Greek mythology)
Eurynome (Greek mythology)
Eurynomos (Greek mythology)

F
Familiars (Christian demonology)
Fleuretty (Christian demonology)
Focalor (Christian demonology)
Foras (Christian demonology)
Forneus (Christian demonology)
Furcas (Christian demonology)
Furfur (Christian demonology)

G
Gaap (Christian demonology)
Gader’el (Jewish demonology)
Gaki (Japanese mythology)
Glasya-Labolas (Christian demonology)
Göap (Christian demonology)
Gorgon (Greek mythology)
Gregorian (Christian demonology)
Gremory (Christian demonology)
Grigori (Jewish demonology)
Gusion (Christian demonology)

H
Haagenti (Christian demonology)
Halphas (Christian demonology)
Hanan’el (Christian demonology)
Hantu (Philippinan mythology)
Haures (Christian demonology)
Humbaba (Sumerian mythology, Akkadian mythology)

I
Incubus (Christian demonology, Chaldean mythology, Jewish folklore)
Ipos (Christian demonology)
Iblis (Islamic demonology)
Ithea (Christian demonology)

J
Jikininki (Japanese mythology)
Jaydeep (Hindu mythology)
Jinn (Islamic Mythology)

K
Kabhanda (Hinduism)
Kasdaye (Christian demonology)
Ka ni na (Japanese mythology)
Kitsune (Japanese mythology)
Kobal (Christian demonology)
Kokb’ael (Jewish demonology)

L
Labal (Christian demonology)
Labasu (a.k.a. Dimmea) (Sumerian mythology)
Lamia (Bulgarian folklore, Christian demonology and Greek mythology)
Legion (Christian demonology)
Lechies (Slavic mythology)
Lempo (Finnish mythology)
Leraje (Christian demonology)
Leviathan (Jewish demonology, Christian demonology)
Lilim (Jewish folklore)
Lilith (Sumerian mythology, Akkadian mythology, Jewish folklore)
Lilu (Jewish demonology)
Liothe (North-European folklore)
Lix Tetrax (Jewish/Christian demonology)
Loquerion (N.Ireland Folklore)
Lucifer (Christian demonology)
Lucifuge Rofocale (Christian demonology)

M
Malphas (Christian demonology)
Mammon (Christian demonology)
Maricha (Hindu mythology)
Marax (Christian demonology)
Marbas (Christian demonology)
Marchosias (Christian demonology)
Mastema (Jewish demonology)
Masselir (Jewish mythology)
Mathim (Christian demonology)
Mccue (Hindu demonoloy)
Medusa (Greek mythology)
Melchiresa (Jewish demonology)
Mephistopheles (Christian folklore)
Merihem (Christian demonology)
Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec mythology)
Mojo (African mythology)
Moloch (Christian demonology)
Munkir (Islamic demonology)
Murmur (Christian demonology)

N
Naamah (Jewish demonology)
Naberius (Christian demonology)
Naberus (Christian demonology)
Naphula (Christian demonology)
Nekir (Islamic demonology)
Neqa’el (Egyptian mythology)
Ninurta (Sumerian mythology, Akkadian mythology)
Nix (North-European folklore)
Nekomata (Japanese mythology)

O
Onoskelis (Greek mythology)
Oray (Christian demonology)
Orcus (see also: Orcs)
Oriax (Christian demonology)
Ornias (Jewish demonology)
Orobas (Christian demonology)
Ose (Christian demonology)
Osiris (Egyptian mythology)
Oni (Japanese demonology)
Oulotep (Jewish mythology)

P
Paimon (Christian demonology)
Pazuzu (Sumerian mythology, Akkadian mythology)
Penemue (Jewish mythology)
Phenex (Christian demonology)
Pithius (Christian demonology)
Popo Bawa (Zanzibar demonology)
Procell (Christian demonology)
Pruflas (Christian demonology)
Purson (Christian demonology)

R
Raging Demon (Christian demonology)
Rahab (Jewish folklore)
Rahovart (European folklore)
Raiju (Japanese mythology)
Rakshasa (Hindu mythology)
Rangda (Hindu mythology)
Raum (Christian demonology)
Razakel (European folklore)
Rimmon (Syrian demonology)
Ronove (Christian demonology)
Rumjal (Jewish demonology)
Rusalka (Slavic mythology)

S
Sabnock (Christian demonology)
Sallos (Christian demonology)
Samael (Jewish demonology)
Satan (Jewish demonology, Christian demonology)
Satanachia (Christian demonology)
Scox (Christian demonology)
Seere (Christian demonology)
Semyazza (Jewish demonology)
Set (Egyptian mythology during the Second Intermediate Period)
Shaitan (Islamic demonology)
Shax (Christian demonology)
Shedim (Jewish folklore)
Shezmu (Egyptian mythology)
Sidragasum (Christian demonology)
Sitri (Christian demonology)
Stheno (Greek mythology)
Stolas (Christian demonology)
Succubus (Sumerian mythology, Akkadian mythology, Jewish folklore, Christian demonology)
Surgat (Christian demonology)

T
Tannin (Jewish demonology)
Tartaruchi (Apocryphal Christian demonology)
Temeluchus (Apocryphal Christian demonology)
Teeraal (Babylonian mythology)
Tengu (Japanese Mythology)
Thammuz (Christian demonology)
Thren (Nordic demonology)
Tzitzimime (Aztec mythology)

V
Vacca (demonolatry)
Valefar (Christian demonology)
Vapula (Christian demonology)
Vassago (Christian demonology)
Vepar (Christian demonology)
Verrine (Christian demonology)
Vine (demon) (Christian demonology)
Volac (Christian demonology)

W
Wendigo ( Native American Mythology)

X
Xitragupten (Christian demonology)

Y
Yeqon (Jewish demonology)
Yeter’el (Christian demonology)
Yokai (Japanese folklore)
Yuki-Onna (Japanese folklore)

Z
Zagan (Christian demonology)
Zepar (Christian demonology)
Ziminar (Christian demonology)
Zmeu (Romanian folklore)
Zin (West African folklore)
Ziz (Jewish demonology)
(Cited from (Wikipedia.org)

I guess I will stop here for today.

(Be it stated that I am not a demonologist or expert on demons by any means, these are just my thoughts and a bit of cited information. Do Not Attempt To Handle ANY Demonic Activity Yourself.)

Additional Sources Cited:
Allusion to “The Exorcist” written by William Peter Blatty ISBN 0-06-010365-5 / 978-0-06-010365-1 (USA edition) and the movie, “The Exorcist” - Directed by William Friedkin; Produced by William Peter Blatty; Noel Marshall(executive producer).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon