XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien, alt.fan.tolkien, alt.religion.tolkienology   
   XPost: alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic, alt.religion.christian   
   From: douglas.eckhart@btinternet.com   
      
   "Steve Hayes"  wrote in message   
   news:3fcf75f1.87420796@news.saix.net...   
   > On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 12:27:59 +0000 (UTC), "Douglas Eckhart"   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   > >   
   > >"the softrat"  wrote in message   
   > >news:fbfqsvktsvfr01gt286bmockfnm1mjilah@4ax.com...   
   >   
   > >> >The Christian notion of 'demons' too stems from the old Greek   
   'Daemones'   
   > >> >which actually referred to any kind of spirit, not necessarily an   
   'evil'   
   > >> >one.   
   > >> >   
   > >> Not the 'notion', which is virtually universal. Just the word.   
   >   
   >    
   >   
   > >However, it was certainly not the case that 'Daimones' were universally   
   > >recognised as 'evil' spirits. Daimones was a greek term which applied to   
   all   
   > >spirits, and they were not any more good or evil than people.   
   > >However, with the advent of christianisation demons (and all pagan gods)   
   > >were alterd to fit in with the the 'eternal battle' good/evil bollocks   
   which   
   > >was being promoted by Christianity, which of course it got from Judaism   
   and   
   > >before that Zoarostianism....   
   >   
   > Check again what Softrat said, and perhaps read up on the history   
      
   I have read up on the history. And Im afraid you wont find that the   
   good/evil polar opposite theme of christian mythology is present in the   
   classical tradition. Yes there are good and bad spirits and so on, as well   
   as good/not so good gods, Hecate wasnt a particularly nice lady, but what   
   I'm saying is that the notion that the world was a battleground for good and   
   evil was foreign to classical thought.   
      
      
      
   > Read the following to get the lowdown on the Christian understanding of   
   this.   
      
   Id rather not.   
      
   Douglas   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)