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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Let’s solve the problem of evil > Thinking & the Demonic? | Forum Quick Jump
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Tiggers
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 219
| Posted 2/3/2004 4:39 AM (GMT -6) |   | Hey C.Vers,
I have a simple question, that is, does or can the demonic know your very thoughts as God can? Can evil forces know everything I’m thinking?
Ok, lately I’ve been thinking about knowing thy enemy, and remember reading Neil T. Anderson a while back and I THINK he asserted that only God can know your thoughts. So why does this matter, well, I suppose it might matter in the strategy of praying, and being a soldier for Christ.
Warmly in Christ,
Tiggers 
“The notion that God uses evils as a means to such higher goods is, … incompatible with the doctrine that he is omnipotent, and therefore does not need to use deplorable means to achieve his ends” (J.L. Mackie). | | Back to Top | | |
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phil_five
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 29
| Posted 2/3/2004 10:27 AM (GMT -6) | | I have thought about that (letting the enemy in on struggles) as well. But I think that the demonic, having been around for thousands of years, are a pretty good judge of character and probably know my struggles and weaknesses better than I do.
-Phil | | Back to Top | | |
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Tiggers
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 219
| Posted 2/3/2004 11:39 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by phil_five
I have thought about that (letting the enemy in on struggles) as well. But I think that the demonic, having been around for thousands of years, are a pretty good judge of character and probably know my struggles and weaknesses better than I do.
-Phil
Hey Phil,
Ok, I understand where you're coming from, truly, but if we have true libertarian free will to the extent that even God could be surprised at times by a decision (i.e., even knowing 100% what we are thinking all the time)…well, then if our enemy can’t read into our thoughts wouldn’t the mind and silent prayer make it that much more of a weapon against our enemy? Simply, if God could be surprised while knowing our thoughts then the demonic could logically be even more surprised not knowing them…can ya feel where I’m coming from? Is there any scriptural evidence at all?
Hey Tigress,
I agree with you to an extent, that is, I wonder if I should pray out loud at times, or discuss with others certain strategies to defeat the ways evil might be found in my life. We all have these evil weaknesses, but the demonic would not know your strategy in this war on evil if the demonic could not read your mind. You see, a parallel might be as with the war on Iraq, the USA did not divulge all of its strategy to Iraq before waging battle, for it could have been catastrophic for our troops (ok, being Iraq, it may not have been exactly catastrophic, but you get my point)  !
Warmly in Christ,
Tiggers
“The notion that God uses evils as a means to such higher goods is, … incompatible with the doctrine that he is omnipotent, and therefore does not need to use deplorable means to achieve his ends” (J.L. Mackie). | | Back to Top | | |
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Tigress
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 2/4/2004 7:39 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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Laika
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 2/4/2004 8:10 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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Tiggers
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 219
| Posted 2/4/2004 8:23 AM (GMT -6) | | Tigress writes,
“What about writing your prayers in journals? I'm sure Satan and his demons are smart enough to read our languages. Should we refrain from writing anything really personal in prayer journals, too?”
Might-be-don replies,
That demon doesn't have to watch us very long to tell what we are thinking.
Tiggers’ reply,
I agree with you, Might-be, but what about the time before they know...? Think about the war parallel, i.e., the enemy will eventually figure out what you’re thinking by watching your actions, but the element of surprise is still there (e.g., see my above post). Now, this brings me back to Tigress’ writing in journals question…YES, the demonic are smart enough, absolutely; furthermore, writing personal stuff in your journal isn’t (I would argue) all that bad! The demonic already know past, and present in your life (my assumption), but they may not know how you plan to conquering sin in your life. This brings me back to my original question, which I’m sure SOME feel is trivial, and/or irrelevant; nevertheless, anyone have any comments?
Warmly in Christ,
Tiggers 
“The notion that God uses evils as a means to such higher goods is, … incompatible with the doctrine that he is omnipotent, and therefore does not need to use deplorable means to achieve his ends” (J.L. Mackie). | | Back to Top | | |
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Tiggers
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 219
| Posted 2/4/2004 4:11 PM (GMT -6) | | Hey Laika,
Oops  , it may have sounded as though I was directing that comment towards you, and I apologize to you for any misunderstanding. I was merely making that comment in general because not many people have put in their two cents in on the topic. However, at the same time, I’m just usually a reader…so who am I to make that comment, right? Laika, I think your humor, and insights add a great deal to this site, and I’m sure many would agree to that, truly  !
Laika asserts,
“My belief is that whether or not they can read our thoughts is irrelevant as I don't think they have any more power over us other than the power of suggestion; initially. So even if they know what I propose in my head, they are powerless to stop me outside of speaking lies to me or to others who could try and stop me.”
Tigger’s reply,
I couldn’t agree with you more; however, as I’m sure you’re aware, our choices form our habits, and our habits if gone unchecked form our character. It seems as though we begin our lives with a libertarian form of freedom, but slowly as our characters are formed they evolve into a more capitalistic form of freedom as we age. So what does this mean? First, the more bad habits that have formed in our lives, well…the more any kind of edge you could have over those habits should be taken seriously and utilized. You see, in any war one needs to take full advantage of all the resources one has available to them in order to survive. Second, the more our characters have developed (i.e., towards the negative) the harder it will be to resist those lies or power of suggestions from the demonic, so again, couldn’t the knowledge gained from my question be profitable in our quest to, as the Doc proclaims in God at War, “Storm the gates of hell”?
Warmly in Christ,
Tiggers
“The notion that God uses evils as a means to such higher goods is, … incompatible with the doctrine that he is omnipotent, and therefore does not need to use deplorable means to achieve his ends” (J.L. Mackie). | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 2/11/2004 9:11 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Tiggers
Hey Laika,
Laika, I think your humor, and insights add a great deal to this site, and I’m sure many would agree to that, truly !
Right on!  Laika Rocks! | | Back to Top | | |
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