An outmoded branch of theology relating to the Devil and demons, elaborated from the later Middle Ages particularly in association with belief in witches and their power to do harm. The best known and most influential work of demonology is the Malleus maleficarum (Hammer of the Witches) by the Dominicans Kramer and Sprenger, published at Cologne in 1484. This was the main source of the idea that witches were agents of the Devil.
Demonology is the systematic study of demons.
Christian demonology
The most extensive exposition of Christian demonology are Heinrich Kramer's Malleus Maleficarum, once thought to have been co-written by Jacob Sprenger ;
Demonology refers to catalogues that attempt to name and set a hierarchy to demons and spirits thought to be malignant. In this sense, demonology can be seen as the mirror image of angelology, which attempts to compile the same information for good spirits.
In Christian tradition, demons are fallen angels, so demonology could be considered a branch of angelology and vice versa.
In the 15th century it was estimated that 133,306,668 angels fell from the Heavens in a total of 9 days according to the Bishop of Tusculum (c.
I am sure that this number astounds even the most open minded. I my self was not surprised by the total figure of the fallen angels, I expected the number to be very big for the simple reason that it is reported that the number of angels is very big and that one third of them fell, so this third should be a very large figure also, but I was and still am very skeptic about the accuracy of this number when I first came upon it
On another note, The Book of Enoch tells of 200 "sons of God" (angels) who became enamored with "daughters of men", and coupled with them, and were therefore banished from Heaven.
Hence, the range between 200 and 133,306,668 is one estimate of the number of demons, at least according to some Christian sources. Indeed, Satan was in early Judaism a prosecutor for God and a somewhat minor angel at that.
There is more than one instance where demons are said to have come to be, as seen by the sins of the Watchers and the Grigori, of Lilith leaving Adam, of demons such as vampires, the demon-locusts from the Book of Revelation, impure spirits in Jewish folklore such as the dybbuk and of humans that have become demons as well. Also, many Jewish legends tell that when God first created the angels, he gave them a choice of whether or not to follow him, and that those who denied were sent to the earth and became demons, though these are not fallen angels.
Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism
In Islam, the devil "Iblis" (Satan and/or Lucifer in Christianity) was not an angel, but of a different kind, the "Jinn" (Humans are created from earth, Angels from light, and Jinn from fire). Since the "Jinn" and humans are the only kinds of God's creation who have the "Will" to choose, the followers of "Iblis" could be Jinn or Humans.
The existence of a malevolent supernatural personality who works to thwart the will of a good God is a central tenet of Christianity.
Many scholars believe that Judaism originally received the concepts of eschatology, angelology, and demonology from Zoroastrianism.
In the Qur'an, when God ordered those witnessing the creation of Adam to kneel before him (before Adam), "Iblis" refused to do so and was therefore damned for refusal to obey God's will.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Some branches of Buddhism affirm the existence of Hells peopled by demons who torment sinners and tempt mortals to sin, or who seek to thwart their enlightenment, with a demon named Mara as chief tempter.
Tartaric Demonology
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Though most Neopagans fervently oppose any mention of demonology in association with their faiths, and very actively condemn those who practice it within their faiths, there are those few individual persons or sects considered out of the mainstream even by neopagan standards who seek power and favor from the infernal. In Hellenistic Demonology, or Tartaric Demonology, some consider any attempt to seek boons from the gods and supernatural entities bound to the realm of Tartarus, or the Tartarian Abode, to be demonology.
Tartaric Demonology may often include the calling out of the names of the infernal, vanquished gods, or cursed gods, for favors and boons. Some demonic practices may include blood letting (often in the form of blood rituals and the giving of ones own blood) and the drawing of symbols associated with various gods or entities considered wicked or infernal.
Also related to Tartaric Demonology is the attempt to fetter lampedes and other such entities to one's mortal self.
Tartaric Demonology, though practiced, is extremely uncommon.
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