The "Demon"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the concept of demons in the Greco-Roman world was very complex because the terms "demon" and "daimon" meant different things to different religious groups. Whereas, to the Greeks and Romans, daimons were supernatural beings, lower than gods, with the ability to help or hurt humans, to Christians, demons were evil spirits only out to harm mankind. The paper relates that both groups saw the importance of demons and utilized them in their own ways as described by the author. The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.

From the Paper:

"The practice of exorcising demons was not limited to professed Christians. Since Christians were not the only people who were believed to be possessed by demons, the practice of exorcism was not limited to those who practiced Christianity. When questioned by the apostle John whether or not exorcisms in the name of Christ practiced by non-Christians should be allowed. ... This sense of near cooperation between Christians and Romans clearly shows how much the Christians feared and distrusted demons."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Reese, David George. "Demon." Anchor Bible Dictionary. Ed. David Noel Freedman. 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
• MacMullen, Ramsay. Christianizing the Roman Empire (A.D. 100-400). New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984.
• "Daimon." Oxford English Dictionary Online. 1989. <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00057149>
• The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation. Tr. Morton Smith. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986. PGM XII. 201-202.
• The HarperCollins Study Bible. Wayne A. Meeks, gen. ed. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. Mark 1:23.

More papers on The "Demon":

• Analytical Essay # 145430 : "Romantic Heroes in Pechorin, Onegin and the Demon"
• Book Review # 66293 : "The Demon-Haunted World"
• Analytical Essay # 57716 : "The Demon-Haunted World"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: