Demonology?

Why Demonology? My Journey into the Unseen Realm

When people first hear about my interest in demonology, the inevitable question is: Why demonology? For me, the journey began years ago with the book Unseen Realm by the late Dr. Michael Heiser. At the time, this book was circulating among the staff, interns, and seminary students at my church, and for many, including myself, it was mind-blowing. It introduced me to a biblically sound understanding of the divine realm and the beings that operate within it. Before this, I didn’t think Scripture had much to say about the unseen realm beyond a few encounters between Christ, the faithful, and the possessed. But Dr. Heiser’s work pulled back the veil, sparking a deep interest in the hidden aspects of God’s creation.

As my interest grew, I found others with similar curiosities. I encountered the works of scholars like John Walton and YouTube ministries such as Michael Jones’s Inspiring Philosophy and Veiled Kingdoms. However, throughout my seminary journey and teaching at the local church , I kept my interest in these topics mostly, under wraps. Many pastors and professors I encountered were quick to dismiss topics that challenged their traditional understanding, often scoffing at anything different than what they had been taught.

Although I had always aspired to pursue PhD work, Divine Realm studies and demonology were never on my radar as a research focus—until my fiftieth birthday trip to Las Vegas.

An Unexpected Encounter in “Sin City”

Las Vegas isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind in regard to theological insight, but I found myself in a peculiar situation. As someone who doesn’t drink or gamble, I spent that weekend seeking out museums and attractions. One particular spot piqued my curiosity: Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum. Bagans, for those unfamiliar, is a popular TV ghost hunter with the show Ghost Adventures. Part of me knew the demonic realm was not something to play with, but the logical side of me wrote off his museum as a Hollywood sideshow. Plus, as a believer I was protected by the Holy Spirit, right? What was the harm in a little investigation?

The experience was, unsurprisingly, uneventful. Despite my deliberate attempts to provoke the supposed evil forces, I walked out of the museum untouched. I stared down Peggy the Doll, reputed to attach itself to anyone who looked her directly in the eyes. I touched supposedly dangerous objects and walked through a haunted basement in defiance of any “evil” lurking there. At the exit, I even declined their offer to have a staff “medium” cleanse me with sage.

Despite the many stories (from the tour guide) of bad things happening to those who mock the museum’s supposed evil inhabitants, nothing demonic followed me home. However, this experience left me contemplating the vast gap between what the Bible describes as demonic activity and the Hollywood version peddled by Bagans and his ilk. Something didn’t add up.

Challenging the “World’s Leading Expert”

Several months later, I watched one of Zak Bagans’ films, referenced at the museum, about a haunted house in Indiana. The house was demolished after the alledged investigation that was the topic of the film, but its stairs were relocated to the museum, yet another exhibit that failed to impress. In the film, Bagans was described as the “world’s leading expert on demonology and paranormal research.” As a budding scholar, I took issue with this claim.

A quick search revealed that Bagans holds no advanced degrees, has published no papers, and has never once been featured in a peer-reviewed journal. His status as an “expert” was baseless, a claim of expertise in a field he has no legitimate standing in. This wasn’t surprising, but it did get me thinking about the lack of serious theological study on topics like the divine realm and demonology.

Filling the Gap in Legitimate Study

In academic theology, demonology is a niche field, and as a result, it is greatly underrepresented. Most seminaries and theological institutions lack the faculty and resources to support rigorous study in this area. But for me, pursuing demonology isn’t about building a career in academia, it’s about contributing to a deeper understanding of a field that has been skewed by modern entertainment and misinformation.

I don’t seek to sensationalize the subject or engage in the kind of “stolen valor” that people like Bagans practice, pretending to be experts in an area they know little about. Instead, I want to offer sound theological research on the divine realm and the spiritual beings that inhabit it. Scripture cautions us to tread lightly when dealing with the demonic, but it also urges us to understand their nature and influence in our world.

What I Hope to Achieve

As I continue this journey, I hope that through my posts regarding this topic you will come away better equipped to recognize real spiritual warfare and the true nature of evil in the world. My aim is not only to deepen our understanding of the unseen realm but also to call out the false spirituality found in secular entertainment for what it is, empty spectacle. Together, we can explore the truth of God’s word, discerning fact from fiction, and learning how to stand firm against the true forces of darkness.