demonology

Demonology is the study of demons—supernatural beings described in many religious, mythological, and folkloric traditions as malevolent or troublesome entities. The term covers both belief systems that include such beings and scholarly analyses of those beliefs. In some contexts demons are regarded as real agents that influence the world; in others they serve as symbolic representations of moral, psychological, or social phenomena.

Historically, concepts of demons appear in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and later crystallize in Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, demonology became a formalized field within theology and magic, with hierarchies, names, and methods of control described in grimoires and liturgical texts. Many other cultures maintain their own demonological systems, including Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, African, Indigenous, and Afro-diasporic traditions, often blending spirits, devils, disease-causing beings, and ancestors.

Practices associated with demonology include efforts to identify and classify demons, understand their powers, and devise rituals for protection, exorcism, or banishment. Scholars study names, powers, and hierarchies attributed to demons, as well as the social and psychological roles these beliefs play in communities.

Academic demonology is treated as a historical and cultural phenomenon within religious studies, anthropology, and folklore. Sources range from sacred scriptures and legal codes to grimoires and ethnographic records. Most scholars approach it critically, analyzing beliefs and practices rather than endorsing claims of supernatural reality.

In contemporary culture, demonology appears in literature, film, music, and occult movements. It continues to influence popular depictions of demons and spiritual practices, while continuing to be studied as part of the broader history of religion and belief.