The Demon Factor

Let’s say right now; you are sitting with your friends, family, or fellow paranormal investigators when someone asks, “What is a demon?” Perhaps most of the people you are sitting with have similar beliefs regarding the definition of a demon, but it’s more than likely, not everyone around you would be in total agreement.

Definitions of a demon can vary depending upon whether someone is religious, agnostic, or atheist. Also, movies and TV shows can influence how a person defines what a demon is.

There is no denying that paranormal TV shows from the likes of Destination America or the Travel Channel have influenced how some viewers define a demon. I get it, and I understand that producers and directors need to include the fear factor with the primary goal of keeping a viewer’s attention for the entire episode, including the hopes they will return to watch future episodes.

How much influence do paranormal TV shows have on a viewer’s explanation of what a demon is?

For those of us interested in the paranormal, whether as a fan of a TV show or as a member of a paranormal group (or solo), shouldn’t we bring into question today’s definition of a demon? If one steps back and genuinely examine the demon factor, you will undoubtedly start to question Hollywood’s influence.

Why are most purported hauntings on paranormal TV shows (or in real life) explained away as evil entities or demons by investigators, psychics, or mediums? Using this reasoning, it could be argued that due to the number of evil hauntings in the world, there could be many “good” people turning evil once they leave their human body.

What if it is a good soul who is throwing or hiding objects, or leaving cabinet doors open? Could it be that an entity’s only motive for causing activity is to prove to those of us who are still alive that the other side really does exist?

What about the possibility of an entity being trapped by something that we cannot possibly comprehend, and no amount of religious intervention or explanation, or psychic-medium crossing-over appeals, or demands by investigators can change that.

Here’s a dimensional scenario:

A married couple is having an intense argument. One of the spouses is screaming at the other while opening all the kitchen cabinets to show the other spouse how unorganized they are. The other spouse’s anger boils over, and they throw an object at a picture frame on the living room wall, causing the frame to crash to the ground. Someone in another dimension is watching TV alone in their living room, and that same picture frame falls to the floor for absolutely no reason shattering the frame’s glass. They get up off the couch and go into the kitchen to get the broom and dustpan on the side of the refrigerator, only to be startled because every cabinet door is wide open.

In the scenario above, the “paranormal” activity would not be caused by a demon. The explanation would be two dimensions, side-by-side, interacting without an ounce of “evil.”

Remember, TV shows are for our entertainment. My advice is to be mindful of how much you let Hollywood influence your beliefs, whether paranormal or otherwise.

(Photo: The rosary photo associated with this article was taken in 2018 while we were doing a walk-around of a property before beginning our investigation.)