My first blog mentioned my first book, "The Demon Cult". I am working on and two thirds through my follow-up novel which will be named, "The Demon Cult 2 - Bakers Island". Bakers Island (I can find no trace of an apostrophe!) is situated in Massachusetts Bay (still no apostrophe - maybe our American cousins have stopped using them), Salem. Salem was the town which held the famous, or more properly, infamous witchcraft trials of 1692; 19 "witches" were hanged that year on Gallows Hill, Salem, others later died in prison.
Religion has caused many issues over centuries. I believe that the most important question that a human being has to answer is: why am I here on this planet? Some believe that we are here for divine purpose; that a god, or The God, is watching over us and there is some purpose to our life but we will only find out what that may be on death. I understand that Christians believe that what happens in the afterlife depends on the kind of life one has led on Earth. The good go to heaven; the bad go to Hell. The Catholics still believe - as a part of their theology - that the spirit goes to purgatory on its journey to either place. The Jewish faith has similar views to Christians but there is a belief in reincarnation as well.
Islam, the Muslims' faith, indicates that after life there is a period of rest and then Allah decides in which direction the spirit goes. This contrasts with Hindus and Buddhists who believe in reincarnation. The Buddhists differ from the Hindus on how this is achieved.
Please forgive my overly simplistic and plausible descriptions above. No doubt the theologians amongst you will shout me down as misrepresenting these, or their, faiths. I am not trying to be controversial but wish to point out that strong messages ensue. People, even non-religious or non-practising individuals, often believe that some day they will go to a place and be reunited with loved ones; ergo there has to be a counter argument that bad people, murderers, rapists et al go to an uncomfortable place; whether to be tortured by demons, or just to exist miserably, depends on that religion's theology.
Now, turn to Paganism. Pagan translates as "One who exists upon the earth". Paganism pre-dates Christianity. The Pagan festival dates were stolen by the Christians and modified to become Christian festivals. Example: the Romans' Pagan Saturnalia, celebrating the winter solstice during the period the 17th to the 23rd December. As we all know, it is taught that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this period (even though some would have it that he was actually born in June!) but beware the giving of presents and especially mistletoe as these are of pagan origin. Paganism is not evil; Pagans do not hate nor worship Jesus; they are not Satanists - Satanism is more a Christian reaction of God's goodness to Satan's evil.The Chinese could possibly express that as God's Yin to Satan's Yang; both are two parts of the same belief, interconnected and interdependent.
If all the mysticism, magic, history and beliefs of the foregoing are true then what price demons?
The word "demon" comes from the Greek and means divine, or divine power, or god. The concept of demons has been around for a lot longer than any of the religions we hear about, or are practised today. We see demons as evil; Christianity and most religions suggest this idea but in some countries it is all part of an endemic spirituality which, I believe, has a home in most people. I am a happy atheist but some events in one's life lift ones heart and are, in the main, inexplicable; they warrant no verbal expression but fit in with the aphorism, "It's good to be alive".
I do not intend to discuss demonology here; I have probably already tried your patience enough. But I strongly believe that if you have a faith then you cannot dismiss one supernatural idea because it does not fit in with the supernatural indoctrination of your upbringing, or later thinking.
For a second blog, that is enough.
