Are there varying degrees of demonic influence?
Yes. There is only one word used in the original language of the New Testament (Greek) to describe demonic influence and habitation — “daimonizomai,” which simply means “demonized.” In terms of casting out devils, it serves no purpose to “mince words” or get “hung up” over semantics. If a person is being influenced by a demon, he needs to be set free from that influence and the demon needs to be cast out, regardless of what part of his being it is affecting or inhabiting. However, for the sake of identification, demonization is commonly classified into three categories: oppression, obsession, and possession. Oppression is solely external influence by demons affecting or seeking to affect either a persons body or his mind and emotions but without usurpation of his will. Obsession is a more advanced stage of demonic incursion of the human soul or body than oppression, distinguished primarily by the fact that with obsession the demonized person has gradually given more and more place to t
