Objection: Demons Were Only a Superstitious Way of Explaining Illness Long Ago

If demons are only a superstition, please explain how 2,000 pigs in Gadara suddenly ran down a steep hill into the sea and drowned themselves (see Mark 5:2-20) when the demons left a madman and entered them.  Either demons are more than a superstition or they had some very superstitious pigs in that region.

If demons are only a superstition, how did one demon-possessed man in Ephesus overcome seven men, strip them naked, and wound them?  This was not one of those nonstop-violence movies where the hero does this kind of thing every two minutes or so.  It was evidently such a strange occurrence that it made an impact on everyone in the city!  You may read the account in Acts 19:13-17.

If demons are only a superstition, how did the madman of Gadara manage to break the chains and fetters that bound him?  I'm sure they didn't use plastic toy ones on such a dangerous man.  Surely the fetters and chains were no more superstitious than the pigs.

If you’ve ever met a truly demonized person, you would know better than to say that demons are a mere superstition.  It’s one thing to meet a mean person and think that he is full of the devil.  It’s quite another to offer to pray for a lady and suddenly have “her” say, “You can’t cast me out!  You don’t have enough experience!”  (This happened to me once.)  If you want to meet some real demon-possessed people, try traveling overseas a bit.  Look at their faces when the demons manifest through them and see if you think that demons are just superstition.  Then watch them change completely when the demons are cast out in the name of Jesus and see what you think.

Demons talked to Jesus.  I have never heard an illness speak in articulate words.  Have you?

Demons exist.  One of the signs in the Great Commission that is to follow believers is that we shall cast out devils in Jesus’ name (see Mark 16:15-18).  This was true then and is true now.  If you think demons are just a superstition, you are accusing Jesus of being superstitious.  You didn’t mean to do that, did you?