In my world of Lor-Amar is a troubled young lad who can see demons. It isn't the demons in particular that make him troubled... There's back story that I won't be explaining here. But the sight of demons is troubling the story. His ability is important to the plot line, but I'm having problems with how much the should be seen. On one side, if they know they can be seen, it could put them at a certain advantage, on the other, being seen lets him see what influence they have and may therefore draw him away from them more than if they were invisible. Another side of me wonders if he should see angels as well. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I think I could use some input.

I have no idea how this should play out, but you could say that he can't see angels without them revealing themselves, maybe because they are more powerful than demons (or some of them are).




I think this could (if you want it to) be an opportunity for internal conflict for your character, as he tries to decide what these strange apparitions are and whether or not they are on his side...maybe?

What do the demons do, in your story? Are they kind of like the demons in The Screwtape Letters, always "whispering" temptations/distractions into their "patient's" mind?

The demons appear after he becomes a Christian and he can see them for what they are. It does give him some advantages with them but I don't want him to become invincible. I was debating making his sight limited so perhaps he can't see his own demons but the ones that are at a certain distance, but I'm not really sure how that would work...

I'm also playing around with making it so he can't hear them or making it so he just gets a certain feeling that tells him they're near. The problem is, that raises questions of how he knows they're evil or even really there.

These ones are very similar to Screwtape Letters and This Present Darkness. Because this world has different connections between the spiritual and the physical, some demons have physical forms at least temporarily. In this case though, the tempters are the ones he would be more aware of since they are invisible.

I think this is a great idea! I've kind of jumped on it and mentally developed it a bit. Here are the thoughts I had in response, for your consideration:

I think those "problems" could be turned into plot developments. Suppose, at first, he merely sees an unusual sort of shadow or darkness around or beside people, and doesn't understand what it is--only that it gives him a deep uneasiness. He could learn they're evil by association--he sees the shadows "enter" a person (or sees wisps of them seem to drift into someone's ears or eyes) from time to time, frequently when they are faced with a moral decision. Perhaps he could identify a time where the person changes their mind and pursues an evil course of action after the shadow's "suggestion". [narrative]And then he paused. When did I start thinking of the shadows as making "suggestions"? He shook his head to clear his thoughts, but the notion rang true with uncomfortable accuracy.[/narrative]
As he reads scripture (or hears a sermon or something) he makes the connection that he is somehow seeing demons, and perhaps then he finds he can begin to predict what some of the suggestions are when he sees them happening. (Perhaps you could even leave it unclear as to whether this is a supernatural/prophetic gifting, or perhaps just an intelligent, discerning mind, armed with the extra sense of knowing exactly when a demon is actively suggesting something.) Perhaps, later on (by what grace he gets there is up to you), he would see the shadows as if in clearer focus, and be able to make out what the demons look like--their appearance could perhaps mirror their intentions for the person to whom they attend.

Hm... That's a very good idea. I'll have to play with it because of how often they're in shadowy places, but I think I can really work with that. Thanks!

You're most welcome! This is a neat story idea, good luck & God bless you as you work at it.

One thing I do with Spirit Sight is to make sure it doesn't also give X-ray vision -- my pheonix or golems can't see an angel or demon if they pass through or inside an object (like a wall or a rock face) or person because the physical object blocks their view.

Why would your character not be able to see angels? What is different about angels that makes him unable to see them?

I'm not sure... I haven't decided on that bit yet...

Could be as simple as just not being part of his gift, I suppose...

True. Sometimes I think too scientifically.

He really ought to, but I'm not sure how I would go about making them feel or look different and still deal with the disguising as an angel of light thing.

My dad has had a demon come into the room. He said he couldn't see it, but he could tell where it was. He also said that as soon as it entered he had a crushing, almost suffocating fear.

A friend of ours has a little 2-3-year-old who sees and hears demons. Or did. I'm not sure if he still does. His mom says that they tell him nasty things, like that he's not good enough, etc. *Shudders*

Anyways, I hope that helps.

I have a feeling that whether we see demons or not, we can all hear them... * slight grimace *

Hebrews 13
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Or Demons.

This is an interesting encounter.
http://www.guideposts.org/angels/christmas-angels-sent-ease-anxiety-and-depression