DEMON

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) The existence of invisible beings of superior powers and intelligence to mankind, though inferior lo the Deity, has been an article of belief among all heathen nations. They have varied, however,in the dispositions they have a igned lo them. The.--. from whom we derive the term in Scriptural Ian- -. applied it originally to the deified spirits of departed heroes, whom they supposed to have some influence in promoting the good of mankind, and considered there« fore as objects of adoration. The manner, however, in i demons are represented in Scripture as evil spirits Inflicting injury on men at the suggestion of the Father of Evil, is conformable to the oriental notion upon such points; except, indeed, that in th« Scriptures the general supremacy ofGod, who suffers evil to exist, is maintained, in opposition to the eastern dogma of the eternal and equal sonflict of the good and the evil principles. The early re. indulged in much speculation upon these subjects;!/iil in modern limes the literal interpretation of the agency 327 [s. 341]