Jack Priest (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2013-01-23 11:39 am
bitten_notshy) wrote in fandomhigh2013-01-23 11:39 am
Entry tags:
Supernatural Studies, Wednesday, Period 1
"Where there is light, there has to be dark," Jack remarked once the students were in their seats. "And if we begin by talking about angels, the next week we need to discuss demons. I’m devoting this week to definitions and classifications; next week we’ll discuss exorcism."
He paused to consider what a very cheerful topic that was before continuing.
"The word demon itself comes from a Greek root that merely indicates a divine power. Early man, though, was more interested in evil powers than in good ones, so there are many more myths about demons than about angels. Sometimes demons are seen as independent spirits, or as fallen angels. But in several belief systems, demons are associated with the spirits of the recently dead. Dr. Freud said that helped to show how much power the dead hold over the living."
"Medieval man blamed demons for everything that went wrong," he added. "If the milk curdled, if your horse ran away, if you had a headache, if your baby died in his sleep -- all of that was the work of demons. And even today, people in many parts of the world continue to believe in the possibility of demonic possession."
"The most common classification system for demons in my world was written by a priest named Alfonso de Spina in the 15th century," Jack said, bringing the list up on a slide.
"Demons of fate," he continued, "mean the demons who control destiny. Familiars are demons bound to a sorcerer and willed to do their bidding. A drude is a possessed witch who comes to sit on one's chest at night, in German beliefs. Sabbaths, in this context, means meetings for witches. Everything else should more or less explain itself."
"Your assignment for this week is to research a demon and write a few paragraphs describing it," he said. "Preferably one that can be accounted for in de Spina's classifications, but if there's another type you're burning to discuss I won't hold it against you. The" -- leather-bound and vaguely forboding -- "books are over there, or use computers if you'd prefer."
He paused to consider what a very cheerful topic that was before continuing.
"The word demon itself comes from a Greek root that merely indicates a divine power. Early man, though, was more interested in evil powers than in good ones, so there are many more myths about demons than about angels. Sometimes demons are seen as independent spirits, or as fallen angels. But in several belief systems, demons are associated with the spirits of the recently dead. Dr. Freud said that helped to show how much power the dead hold over the living."
"Medieval man blamed demons for everything that went wrong," he added. "If the milk curdled, if your horse ran away, if you had a headache, if your baby died in his sleep -- all of that was the work of demons. And even today, people in many parts of the world continue to believe in the possibility of demonic possession."
"The most common classification system for demons in my world was written by a priest named Alfonso de Spina in the 15th century," Jack said, bringing the list up on a slide.
"Demons of fate," he continued, "mean the demons who control destiny. Familiars are demons bound to a sorcerer and willed to do their bidding. A drude is a possessed witch who comes to sit on one's chest at night, in German beliefs. Sabbaths, in this context, means meetings for witches. Everything else should more or less explain itself."
"Your assignment for this week is to research a demon and write a few paragraphs describing it," he said. "Preferably one that can be accounted for in de Spina's classifications, but if there's another type you're burning to discuss I won't hold it against you. The" -- leather-bound and vaguely forboding -- "books are over there, or use computers if you'd prefer."
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She got really interested when she found out that possibly rusalki weren't demons at all, but vengeful ghosts. She knew a thing or twenty about that, after all.