The word “demonise” often carries a heavy, negative connotation. It brings to mind historical injustices, the persecution of minorities, and the dangerous practice of reducing complex human beings or groups to simplistic caricatures of evil. And rightly so – demonising people is unequivocally wrong and harmful.
However, let’s consider something fundamentally different: demonising genuine demons. Let’s step outside the metaphorical and consider the scenario where true, inherent evil exists in the form of conscious, malevolent entities whose nature is antithetical to life, goodness, and order (such as identified by psyciatrist M. Scott Peck and priest Father Gabrielle Amorth). In such a context, the act of “demonising” shifts from a harmful distortion of reality to a sensible, even necessary, strategy for recognition, defence, and survival.
Here’s why it makes rational sense to demonise genuine demons:
Clear Identification of an Existential Threat:
If genuine demons exist and are defined by inherent malevolence and destructive intent, then recognising and labelling them accurately is the first step in self-preservation. “Demon” in this context isn’t a slur; it’s a precise descriptor of a being whose very essence is harmful and dangerous. Demonising them means acknowledging their true nature as pure evil, leaving no room for naive assumptions of potential redemption, misunderstanding, or accidental harm. It’s a clear warning sign: “This entity is fundamentally hostile and must be treated as such.”
Establishing Unambiguous Moral Boundaries:
Genuine demons, by definition, embody pure evil. To demonise them is to affirm that evil exists and is wrong. It establishes a clear moral boundary between that which sustains and enhances life and that which seeks only to destroy it. In a confrontation with inherent evil, moral clarity is paramount. Ambiguity or attempts to find nuance in something defined by its lack of goodness can be exploited and are ultimately self-defeating. Labelling evil as evil is a necessary act of moral truth.
Justification for Resistance and Defence:
You do not negotiate with, rehabilitate, or tolerate pure, inherent evil. Its goals are antithetical to any form of positive coexistence. Demonising genuine demons provides the necessary moral and psychological justification for unwavering resistance, self-defence, and active opposition. If something is inherently and irrevocably evil, the only sensible responses are to protect yourself, protect others, and combat its influence or presence. Demonisation removes the paralysis of indecision or the misguided hope of reconciliation.
Protection of Others and Society:
Warning others about a genuine threat requires clear, impactful language. Calling genuine evil “demonic” communicates the extreme nature of the danger effectively. It mobilises collective awareness and action against an enemy that offers no common ground. Just as we name and classify dangerous pathogens to prepare for combating them, naming and classifying genuine evil for what it is – demonic – prepares individuals and societies to defend themselves.
It is Absolutely Critical to Distinguish:
Let’s reiterate: This argument applies strictly to the scenario of genuine, inherent evil entities. This is miles away from, and completely separate from, the reprehensible practice of demonising human beings or groups. Demonising people is wrong because it denies their humanity, complexity, and the possibility of change or redemption; it is often based on prejudice, fear, or political manipulation, not the identification of inherent evil.
Genuine demons, as defined in this context, lack humanity and are characterised by an inherent, unchanging nature of malevolence. The term “demonise” in this specific, limited context is not about stripping away humanity (which they lack) or distorting truth (it’s naming their inherent truth); it’s about accurately identifying a unique and absolute threat.
In a world containing genuine demons – entities defined by pure, inherent, and unchanging evil – the act of demonising them is not an act of prejudice or cruelty. On the contrary, it is a sensible, logical, and necessary response. It is the clear identification of an existential threat, an affirmation of essential moral truths, a justification for self-preservation and defence, and a vital warning to others.
While we must be ever vigilant against the harmful human practice of demonisation, in the confrontation with true demonic entities, calling them what they are isn’t just accurate – it’s rational survival.
Worldwide Temple of Aurora 