Demonic

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Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.

Demonic refers to bizarre and disturbing behavior or situations possibly influenced by demons, such as unexplained evil actions or emotionally charged anxiety. Demonic manifestations can occur in groups of people as well as isolated individuals and can arise in what appears to be pure chance. Even young children can occasionally initiate demonic deeds without any rational explanation.

It should be noted that some Christian denominations teach that a Christian cannot be actually demon-possessed but can be influenced by demonic activity if the person allows himself/herself to engage in certain actions (such as reading tarot cards).

Elements of chance or uncertainty, as found in gambling and games like football, seem to enable demonic influences to thrive.

Entire nations, particularly when ethnically homogeneous as Germany was in the 1930s, can become demonic. Dogs and other animals might also occasionally become demonic, particularly when they have rabies, and thereby create dangers.

Some atheists deny the existence of evil and thus deny the possibility of demonic conduct. But even then there are popular secular uses of the term, such as "demonic laughter" in a movie.

The blockbuster movie The Exorcist famously depicted demonic conduct, supposedly based on a true story. The movie broke the record at the time for box office revenue and was upsetting to many who saw it.

See also