Possessed

NOTES:

Cahn, Jonathan. Return of the Gods. Christma Media. Kindle Edition

Daimonizomai, demonization - effect of a spiritual principality on an individual

Symptoms:

• convulsions
• shakings
• violent frenzies
• moaning
• shrieking
• foaming at the mouth
• speaking unintelligible words

If a culture and kingdom worshipped the gods and the gods were spirits, then the culture and kingdom were joined to the spirits, subject to them, and under their dominion.

Collective, mass or civilizational possession - entire cultures, nations, kingdoms or civilizations were possed. Often offering up of humans as part of worship.

Casting may lead to violent backlash:

• Acts 16:crowds went into uproar, Paul and Silas wre arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Freed by earthquake shaking the foundation.
• Ephasus conflict between the gospel and the gods led to a dangerous confrontation. Multitudes stirred up into a fury. The crowd chanted the name of the goddess over and over again.
• Led to believers being imprisoned, crucified, burned, and sent into the areans to be killed.
• Emperor Diocletian launched the Great Persecution on believers on the day called Terminalia - the festival of the Roman god Terminus, lord of boundaries and endings. It was launched after consultation with a woman possessed by a spirit.