[Porkandbeeny]

I guess I put little stock in what someone has written about how demon possession works if they have no actual Biblical support to back it up, because we're dealing with things unseen. Whereas observations can be made about how a particular person was possessed, it does not mean that all possessions therefore occur that way. So, to make a hard fast rule about it without Biblical support is, in my humble opinion, poppycock. Now, I'd be interested to see any Biblical support for the idea that a person must enter into a contractual arrangement with the devil in order to be possessed.

To that point, was the man in the region of the Garasenes someone who had entered into that sort of agreement? We're not told, but it certainly doesn't seem he was a willing victim. And neither were the pigs.

[Dark Skies]

I guess I put little stock in what someone has written about how demon possession works if they have no actual Biblical support to back it up...

I suggest you look into People of the Lie by Scott Peck as a starting point for this subject (human and demonic evil). I think you will find you're are taking an unnecessarily narrow view of this matter.

Additionally, many things are invisible and lack direct scriptural support or linkage, but are still facts. BTW, not all of the people who assist in exorcism are believers. Often, the medical and psychiatric staff are atheists (or at least not devout believers), yet you are saying their direct experience has no value to someone studying this subject.

I think I am beginning to put little stock in your opinion.