Spiritual warfare

[[File:GIORDANO, Luca fallen angels.jpg|thumb|[[Luca Giordano]]'s ''[[The Fall of the Rebel Angels (Giordano)|The Fall of the Rebel Angels]]'', a common image of spiritual warfare]]

[[File:GIORDANO, Luca fallen angels.jpg|thumb|[[Luca Giordano]]'s ''[[The Fall of the Rebel Angels (Giordano)|The Fall of the Rebel Angels]]'', a common image of spiritual warfare]]

'''Spiritual warfare''' (often termed '''spiritual conflict''' or '''conflict with evil'''){{Cite web |title=Spiritual Warfare (1): Understanding the Conflict with Evil {{!}} Truth & Tidings |url=https://truthandtidings.com/2018/06/spiritual-warfare-1-understanding-the-conflict-with-evil/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=truthandtidings.com}} the [[Christianity|Christian]] concept of fighting against the work of [[preternatural]] evil forces. It is based on the belief in evil spirits, or [[demon]]s, that are said to intervene in human affairs in various ways.{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Clinton E.|authorlink=Clinton E. Arnold|title=3 crucial questions about spiritual warfare|year=1997|publisher=[[Baker Publishing Group]]|location=Grand Rapids, Mich.|isbn=0801057841|page=17}} Although spiritual warfare is a prominent feature of [[neo-charismatic]] churches, various other Christian denominations and groups have also adopted practices rooted in the concepts of spiritual warfare, with [[Christian demonology]] often playing a key role in these practices and beliefs, or had older traditions of such a concept unrelated to the neo-charismatic movement, such as the exorcistic prayers of the [[Catholic Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodox|Eastern Orthodox churches]], and the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodox churches]].{{cite journal |author-last=O'Donnell |author-first=Jonathon |date=September 2020 |title=The deliverance of the administrative state: Deep state conspiracism, charismatic demonology, and the post-truth politics of American Christian nationalism |editor1-last=Stausberg |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-link=Michael Stausberg |editor2-last=Engler |editor2-first=Steven |editor2-link=Steven Engler (religion scholar) |journal=[[Religion (journal)|Religion]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=696–719 |doi=10.1080/0048721X.2020.1810817 |s2cid=222094116 |issn=1096-1151}} The term ''spiritual warfare'' is used broadly by different Christian movements and in different contexts: "by [[charismatics]], [[Evangelicalism|evangelicals]], and [[Calvinists]], and applied to [[missiology]], counseling, and women."{{Cite journal |last=Warren |first=E. Janet |date=2012 |title='Spiritual Warfare': A Dead Metaphor? |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/pent/21/2/article-p278_6.xml |journal=[[Journal of Pentecostal Theology]] |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=278–297 |doi=10.1163/17455251-02102007 |issn=0966-7369|url-access=subscription }}

'''Spiritual warfare''' (often termed '''spiritual conflict''' or '''conflict with evil'''){{Cite web |title=Spiritual Warfare (1): Understanding the Conflict with Evil {{!}} Truth & Tidings |url=https://truthandtidings.com/2018/06/spiritual-warfare-1-understanding-the-conflict-with-evil/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=truthandtidings.com}}{{Cite web |title=Spiritual Warfare {{!}} Religion and Philosophy {{!}} Research Starters {{!}} EBSCO Research |url=https://www.ebsco.com/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=EBSCO |language=en}} the [[Christianity|Christian]] concept of fighting against the work of [[preternatural]] evil forces. It is based on the belief in evil spirits, or [[demon]]s, that are said to intervene in human affairs in various ways.{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Clinton E.|authorlink=Clinton E. Arnold|title=3 crucial questions about spiritual warfare|year=1997|publisher=[[Baker Publishing Group]]|location=Grand Rapids, Mich.|isbn=0801057841|page=17}} Although spiritual warfare is a prominent feature of [[neo-charismatic]] churches, various other Christian denominations and groups have also adopted practices rooted in the concepts of spiritual warfare, with [[Christian demonology]] often playing a key role in these practices and beliefs, or had older traditions of such a concept unrelated to the neo-charismatic movement, such as the exorcistic prayers of the [[Catholic Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodox|Eastern Orthodox churches]], and the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodox churches]].{{cite journal |author-last=O'Donnell |author-first=Jonathon |date=September 2020 |title=The deliverance of the administrative state: Deep state conspiracism, charismatic demonology, and the post-truth politics of American Christian nationalism |editor1-last=Stausberg |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-link=Michael Stausberg |editor2-last=Engler |editor2-first=Steven |editor2-link=Steven Engler (religion scholar) |journal=[[Religion (journal)|Religion]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=696–719 |doi=10.1080/0048721X.2020.1810817 |s2cid=222094116 |issn=1096-1151}} The term ''spiritual warfare'' is used broadly by different Christian movements and in different contexts: "by [[charismatics]], [[Evangelicalism|evangelicals]], and [[Calvinists]], and applied to [[missiology]], counseling, and women."{{Cite journal |last=Warren |first=E. Janet |date=2012 |title='Spiritual Warfare': A Dead Metaphor? |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/pent/21/2/article-p278_6.xml |journal=[[Journal of Pentecostal Theology]] |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=278–297 |doi=10.1163/17455251-02102007 |issn=0966-7369|url-access=subscription }}

[[Prayer in Christianity|Prayer]] is one common form of spiritual warfare practiced amongst these Christians.{{cite journal |last=Marshall |first=Ruth |date=March 2016 |title=Destroying arguments and captivating thoughts: Spiritual warfare prayer as global praxis |journal=Journal of Religious and Political Practice |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=92–113 |doi=10.1080/20566093.2016.1085243 |doi-access=free |issn=2056-6107}} Other practices may include [[exorcism]], the [[laying on of hands]], [[fasting]] with [[Christian prayer|prayer]], [[Contemporary worship music|praise and worship]], and [[anointing]] with oil.

[[Prayer in Christianity|Prayer]] is one common form of spiritual warfare practiced amongst these Christians.{{cite journal |last=Marshall |first=Ruth |date=March 2016 |title=Destroying arguments and captivating thoughts: Spiritual warfare prayer as global praxis |journal=Journal of Religious and Political Practice |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=92–113 |doi=10.1080/20566093.2016.1085243 |doi-access=free |issn=2056-6107}} Other practices may include [[exorcism]], the [[laying on of hands]], [[fasting]] with [[Christian prayer|prayer]], [[Contemporary worship music|praise and worship]], and [[anointing]] with oil.