Can Demons Read Our Minds or Tell the Future?
Responses from C.S. Lewis & St. John Damascene
Q1. Can Demons Read Our Minds?
Let’s begin with C.S. Lewis. Following the logic of Scripture and the great Christian teachers of the past, he does not think that any angel or demon can directly read our minds. He reveals his thoughts in his Ransom’s Space Trilogy when commenting on the role of angels within his fictional work. He writes,
“One of Ransom’s greatest difficulties in disputing with MacPhee (who consistently professed to disbelieve the very existence of the eldila [i.e angels] was that MacPhee made the common, but curious assumption that if there are creatures wiser and stronger than man they must be forthwith omniscient and omnipotent. In vain did Ransom endeavour to explain the truth. Doubtless, the great beings who now so often came to him had power sufficient to sweep Belbury from the face of England and England from the face of the globe; perhaps, to blot the globe itself out of existence. But no power of that kind would be used. Nor had they any direct vision into the minds of men.” (That Hideous Strength, Chapter 9, Pg. 199).
Lewis via Ransom states that angels nor demons can directly read the minds of men like God. They are not all-knowing nor all-powerful. However, Lewis readily admits that demons can influence the will of men through false ideas or heresy, which is why he dedicated a whole fictional work, The Screwtape Letters, to this very topic! A reader of Perelandra (Lewis’ 2nd installment in his space trilogy) will also note that much of the work is devoted to a demonically possessed man trying to compromise the the will of the Green Lady, who is in the state of innocence like Eve before the Fall. He does not know her pure thoughts, but he is trying to bring about confusion to her limited intellect so that her will might begin to bend a different direction.
The Scriptures really envision only God knowing the hearts and minds of men.
“Forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts You know—according to all their ways, for only You know what is in every human heart” (1 Kings 8:39).
Q2: Can Demons Influence Our Thoughts?
Even though demons cannot read our minds, they are experts at human behavior and know how to influence us through our appetites and imaginations. If the world of online marketing can greatly influence us since they know what we enjoy to watch and buy online, then certainly demons can influence us since they are constantly aware of our habits and impulses. This sort of ‘mental interference’ can be seen in Scripture when Satan influenced King David’s to take a census in Israel in disobedience to God.
“Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1).
St. Thomas Aquinas elaborates on this method used by the devil when he writes:
“The operation of the devil seems to be confined to the imagination and sensitive appetite, by moving either of which he can induce man to sin. For his operation may result in presenting certain forms to the imagination; and he is able to incite the sensitive appetite to some passion or other.” (ST 1.80.2)
St. John Damascene also writes,
“All wickedness, then, and all impure passions are the work of their mind. But while the liberty to attack man has been granted to them, they have not the strength to over-master any one: for we have it in our power to receive or not to receive the attack. Wherefore there has been prepared for the devil and his demons, and those who follow him, fire unquenchable and everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:41). (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book II, Chapter 4: ‘Concerning the Devil and Demons.’)
Q3: Do demons know everything about the future?
St. John Damascene responds:
“Of the future both the angels of God and the demons are alike ignorant: yet they make predictions. God reveals the future to the angels and commands them to prophesy, and so what they say comes to pass. But the demons also make predictions, sometimes because they see what is happening at a distance, and sometimes merely making guesses: hence much that they say is false and they should not be believed, even although they do often, in the way we have said, tell what is true. Besides they know the Scriptures.”
Q4: How do we defend ourselves against the Devil?
In conclusion, let’s be reminded that we are not helpless against the kingdom of darkness but have many tools of grace given to us by God (read Ephesians 6 below). Jesus models this approach of spiritual warfare during His 40 days of trial in the wilderness.
Pray & Fast: Jesus prepared for His earthly ministry against the devil by fasting and praying for 40 days. He also teaches his disciples that certain demons cannot be driven out of our lives without prayer AND fasting (see Matthew 9:29). This is why it is important to follow the ancient wisdom of the Church in fasting during certain times (Wednesdays & Fridays, Lent, etc.). A person can also fast when the Holy Spirit leads them for a specific intention (i.e. fasting as personal repentance from sin or fasting for the sake of others).
Study Scripture: Satan knows Scripture and weaponized it against Jesus. However, Jesus knew the Scriptures better than he did and caused the Devil to flee with God’s Word. We should spend time in Scripture on a daily basis through a daily devotional, a Bible Study, or the Scripture readings within the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass readings.
Guard Your Hearts (Desires) & Minds (Imaginations): Satan tried to influence Jesus’ stomach with food and his imagination with the kingdom of this world. Jesus guarded his desires and mind against these attacks, because he had already surrendered to His Father’s will before this moment. Satan is the most effective against us when we are living according to our own plans and dreams rather than God’s own plans and dreams for our lives.
Confess Your Sins: Jesus did not need to confess his sins, but we certainly do! After Peter betrays our Lord, he confesses his sins to the Risen Lord on the seashore and is restored by Him (see John 21:15-19). It is important that we also reveal our inner lives to a good spiritual father and practice sacramental confession. St. Paul teaches that the act of sin and loving sin can give the devil a foothold in our lives (see Ephesians 4:27-29).
Worship the Lord: We know that Satan flees from an atmosphere of worship when we give our praises and thanks to God. The angels also join us in song with their presence which causes the demons to tremble. Most of all, Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist fills the entire space making it holy. When we receive Christ in the Eucharist, we look terrible to the devil. St. John Chrysostom writes:
“Let us then return from the [Communion] table like lions breathing fire, having become terrible to the devil; thinking on our Head [Christ] and on the love that He has shown for us.… Our Lord says: “I feed you with My own flesh, desiring that you all be nobly born, and holding forth good hopes for your future.… I have willed to become your Brother. For your sake, I shared in flesh and blood, and, in turn, I give you the flesh and the blood by which I became your kinsman.” This blood causes the image of our King to be fresh within us. It produces beauty unspeakable and prevents the nobleness of our souls from wasting away.… It nourishes our souls and works in them a mighty power. This blood, if rightly taken, drives away devils, and keeps them far from us, while it calls the angels and the Lord of angels to us. For wherever they see the Lord’s blood, devils flee, and angels run together.” (John Chrysostom , Homilies On the Gospel of St. John, Homily XLVI.3)
St. Paul also writes in Ephesians 6:10-17 concerning the Armor of God:
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these,[c] take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”