When was the last time, if ever, the secular world acknowledged a demonic possession?
score:1
Demonism and general belief in a spirit world are all interrelated. Surprisingly in Africa there is still an arguable case to say the secular government still admits the existence of potential demonic possession as it still has laws against witchcraft. In most other places 'secular' recognition of a spirit realm ended around the 1700s. For example in 1745 witchcraft was no longer a crime in England.
Every culture has a history of belief in ghosts and spirits. The outward phenomenon or behavior that would be potentially described by historical Christianity as 'demonic possession' is described by similar terms according to the form of religion the culture has. The question is therefore when did society make legal systems that no longer admitted the existence of a spiritual realm that could interact with the the physical realm. In other words when did governments truly become 'secular' in the modern atheistical, agnostic scientific sense?
The quickest and most accurate way to answer this difficult question is to see when laws against witchcraft ended. In most countries laws against witchcraft have ceased. However as Africa has had arguably the most extensive history of spiritism and apparent demonic possession, it seems that even today the laws are not fully repealed.
The legal system enacted in 1957 with respect to witchcraft is still in force and states:
The act criminalises a number of actions. The following two crimes, the most serious under the act, attract a fine of up to R400,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years.[3] Imputing to any other person the causing, by supernatural means, of any disease in or injury or damage to any person or thing, or naming or indicating any other person as a wizard
This does not directly answer the question in terms of demonism but I think you can see that when secular governments still believe that spirits can cause disease then they will usually believe is some sort of demonism also. Every culture has since this time people recorded history generally believed in a spirit world and some form of what we would call possession. Even in the modern secular era many civil servants and lawmakers will,personally have religious private beliefs. So the lack of belief is in some ways imaginary for the sake of separation between church and state. Usually only genuine atheists confidently deny an existence of a spirit world.
More post
- 📝 What is the history of the term "state of perfection" before, during, and after Vatican II?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, what is needed to perform an exorcism?
- 📝 What is an overview of Reformed beliefs about hell?
- 📝 Why did Eve say that "touching" the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would kill you?
- 📝 What is the case that 1 Corinthians 15:7 refers to James the Just, relative of Jesus, rather than James, one of the Twelve?
- 📝 Who were the 40 men who wrote the Bible?
- 📝 Why does the Holy Spirit not take the form of a human being just like Jesus did?
- 📝 Is it possible not to be contented in heaven?
- 📝 Definition of light in Matthew 5:16
- 📝 Meaning of the expression "I cling to cross of Christ"
- 📝 What are the essential components of a Protestant evangelical church?
- 📝 The meaning of "The Other" in the writings by pope John Paul II
- 📝 Why did Jesus order the unclean spirits in the Multitude at the Seaside (Mark 3.7-12) to not make him known?
- 📝 Modern musical instruments in Catholic church service
- 📝 Why is the Crucifixion believed to have happened on Friday?
- 📝 Alternative Names for Eastertide?
- 📝 Is the New Covenant a unilateral or a bilateral covenant?
- 📝 Was There a '7' Associated With the New Covenant?
- 📝 Is it possible to be Arminian and believe in personal predestination to salvation? (as opposed to corporate election)
- 📝 What churches identify themselves as being Modalist?
- 📝 Are bad things in life Satan's doing or God testing/punishing me?
- 📝 Why was Lot's wife judged for looking back?
- 📝 Is Matthew 26:32 and John 20:9 a mistake stating that Jesus told the disciples He would rise again then stating they didn't know after it happened?
- 📝 Is the LDS's view of Trinity/Godhead considered monotheistic or polytheistic?
- 📝 Did God inadvertantly create evil?
- 📝 Does "no part of this world" mean no involvement in politics?
- 📝 Why is Christianity considered a monotheistic religion?
- 📝 Was the virgin conception of Jesus known to the people at the time?
- 📝 Is Levi from Luke 5:27 and Mark 2:14 referring to the apostle Matthew
- 📝 What does it mean that John's Gospel does not have an account of the institution of the Eucharist?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 When was the last time, if ever, the secular world acknowledged a demonic possession?
- 📝 Was the 1914 prophecy (derived from the book of Daniel) ever mentioned in any newspapers before World War I?
- 📝 Was there a time when bishops were not appointed to other sees and did not generally ever relocate?
- 📝 If according to the Jehovah Witnesses that "there was a time when God was alone," who was with God at John 1:1?
- 📝 Was charging interest on loans ever forbidden to laymen in the Eastern Orthodox Church? If so, when was this promulgated and when was it revoked?
- 📝 What was the population of the world at the time of the flood?
- 📝 What was St Paul's age at the time of his conversion and what was his age when he died?
- 📝 When was the first time God promised eternal life in the Bible?
- 📝 When was it claimed for the first time that Christians could "pray in tongues" in private for self-edification?
- 📝 When was it claimed for the first time in Church history that the offices of apostle and prophet have ceased?
- 📝 How could Jesus be born during the reign of Herod, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, if those periods were not contemporary?
- 📝 Why was God so upset with Moses for striking the rock the second time in the desert?
- 📝 When in the development of trinitarian doctrine was the word "persons" first applied to God?
- 📝 Was the Last Supper not the Passover meal?
- 📝 When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?
- 📝 When is the first time in church history we find a prayer ending with "in Jesus' name, amen"?
- 📝 When was the Bible formally declared to be inerrant and/or infallible?
- 📝 When was the New Testament divided into sentences and paragraphs?
- 📝 What happened to the wives of priests when celibacy was first instituted in the Catholic church?
- 📝 When was the word "trinity" first applied to God in Christianity?
- 📝 Was there a reason Jesus came at the time he did?
- 📝 When did the Orthodox and Catholic Churches distinguish the manner in which the Sign of the Cross was to be made?
- 📝 When was Sunday first called the Sabbath?
- 📝 When was the early Christian apology "Dialogue with Trypho" written?
- 📝 Was the Trinity still a Trinity when Jesus died?
- 📝 When and how was the doctrine of the one divine will established?
- 📝 How can John the Baptist be the greatest man born of woman, when Jesus was also born of woman?
- 📝 When Was The Gospel of Luke Written?
- 📝 At what date in history was the last papal anathema officially applied through the death penalty in a papal court against a heretic or protestant?
- 📝 Was the Book of the Law (Torah) ever kept inside the Ark of the Covenant?