The modern attitude to demon possession is very instructive isn't it? So many take the attitude that there is no such thing as demon possession, and infer that Jesus Christ Himself knew quite well that there was no such thing, not seeing that, by such an attitude, they put themselves in the place of the superior person, and claim to know all the private opinions of the Almighty about iniquity (wickedness).
Jesus unquestionably did believe in the fact of demon possession. Shouldn't we as Christians be asking, "Is there such a thing Lord? Show me, I am open to knowing what you want me to understand on this issue." Yet we tend to say, "This is what I think, logically, now prove me wrong." The New Testament is full of Supernatural; Jesus Christ saw what we cannot see; supernatural forces at work. "Try the Spirits whether they are of God." (1 John 4:1).
Nogard suggests all demoniacal influences are only natural sicknesses. But certain parts being infested by demons is real and different from natural sicknesses. Read the Records of Our Lord casting out demons: "Thou dumb and deaf Spirit, I charge thee, come out." (Mark 9:25). Other times He said nothing about demons when He healed the deaf and dumb. (Matthew 9:32).
Our Lord many times mentioned demons, and attaching them to particular organs affected. But, in regards to Gadara, he was possessed by demons not only in a particular organ, but thru the whole of his body. how many personalities can be in one body? Take this man of Gardara "And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said Legion; for many devil's were entered into him." (Luke 8:30).
The case of Judas instances the identification of a human soul with the devil himself. As is man capable to be one with Christ, it is true one can be one with Satan. "Then entered Satan into him." (John 13:27).
"I have not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil." (John 6:70).
These are the Scriptures I hope help in fact finding. There are Supernatural sicknesses of the body and soul in this present life, but the great news is Jesus Christ can deal with them all. Jesus talked about Satan, demons, and Angels, yet we don't see them. Are we therefore going to criticize Jesus Christ's statements? -- If so, time for me to go jogging....I'm not interested in doing that. 
.
Just checking in before going to bed, and wanted to commend Slave for this insightful response. I noticed as well that certain ailments in Scripture were sometimes attributed to demon possession and other times just to general sickness and health. What you're suggesting is that if someone was inflicted with a perpetual illness or other calamity, it could be due to natural causes from poor health OR it could be a demon.
This is interesting, because it raises a lot of questions. If you have two people with the same ailment, one due to natural causes and one due to demon possession, would modern day medicine be able to cure both people? It's understandable how Jesus would know the difference, but how did the commonfolk know the difference between the two? It seems like it would be hard to tell.
With the Pentecostal/charasmatic movement arising in the early 20th century, the religious landscape is tilting more toward the spiritual again. Spiritual gifts, being slain in the spirit, and warfare with demons are growing practices among Pentecostals and especially growing among Latin American believers. I'll never forget the conversation I had with an acquaintance at college. This was back when I was still a believer myself. The guy mentioned how he woke up in the middle of the night to find a demon in his room. He went on to say how he prayed and fought with the demon, ultimately getting it to leave. I was fascinated with this story because if I ever were to wake up and just see what appeared to be a demon in my room, I would scream and run out of the house, call the cops, and so forth. But this guy, apparently unfazed that a supernatural apparition was in his room, calmly duked it out with the creature. Out of the two reactions, mine would seem more logical, but his is more common. When I heard others say similar stories (as I had several Assembly of Godian acquaintances in college), they all acted in similar ways. Instead of running from the room, calling for help, or taking a picture on their phone for evidence, they just kind of get in this zone and duke it out. Of course, more conservative Christians view spiritual warfare as a purely mental, personal thing that charismatics tend to incorrectly project into the natural world.
What was the point of that tangent? Simply that the mix between the supernatural and natural is somewhat complicated in Christianity, which is what your post alludes to in a way, and there is even some dispute on it between denominations.
Anyway, I appreciate the response. Very insightful.
).
