Lorraine Murray is a religion columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Little ghosts and goblins soon will be traipsing up and down the streets in search of Halloween treats. Doorbells will ring and adults will pretend to be terrified by the monsters on the porch.

But this spooky season beckons adults to do more than dish out candy. It's a good time to probe the recesses of our hearts and ask: What scary monsters and dark demons haunt us all year long?

Even if skeptics doubt their existence, Scripture is populated with an array of demons. Jesus himself cast out quite a few and they could do some definite damage. All these years later, demons are still trying to lure us away from God and thrust us into darkness.

So many today battle the demon of greed. He whispers into our ears when we're at the mall or whenever a catalog arrives in the mail. He urges us to crave more clothing, jewelry, technology and comforts, even though we may already have plenty. He assures us it doesn't matter that others go hungry, as long as we get our stuff. And sadly, the demon of greed is never satisfied.

The demon of novelty is also busy today. He tries to convince us that if something is new, it must be better than what we already have.

He lures us into constantly seeking the next thrill and he can wreak havoc on relationships. You see this demon at work especially in Hollywood, where so many stars have been married four or five times and are still on the prowl for the next new person.


While we're doing our inventory, let's not overlook the demon of despair. He can be the worst one of all, because he tries to snatch away our faith. He says life has no meaning and there is no God and no heaven. Whatever problems we face, he claims there is no way out. Tragically, many who succumb to suicide do so because they've listened to this monster's lies.

The good news is that nothing can force us to succumb to these demons. God created us with free will, so the ridiculous saying "the devil made me do it" is just that: laughable. We can be tempted, of course, but believers have a powerful tool against any demon.

It is the Lord's Prayer, with the simple words "deliver us from evil." As we say that prayer we can envision our own demons, whatever they may be, shriveling up and sneaking away. Just as the gloomiest Halloween night can be illuminated with a simple candle, so prayer can banish the monsters from our hearts.

Lorraine Murray is a religion columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Her latest book is"Death of a Liturgist," a mystery set at a fictional parish in Decatur, Ga. She also is the author of"The Abbess of Andalusia,"about Flannery O'Connor's religious journey. Her e-mail address is lorrainevmurray@yahoo.com.