When people think of religion, they typically think about deities or guidelines on how to pursue a life that aligns with the divine. However, plenty of modern religions also feature an array of creatures, spirits, and monsters that serve an array of purposes. Some of these beasts exist to act as warnings against committing certain acts, while others merely exist to instill fear in the hearts of the devout. Whether you consider yourself a spiritual individual or you’re simply curious about strange critters, take a moment to peruse these monsters from modern religions.
The Jinn
Western audiences are quite familiar with the concept of genies as spirits who live inside objects and grant wishes to mortals who stumble upon them. However, these creatures actually stem from various religious beliefs in pre-Islamic Arabia. Originally known as jinn, these spirits were a large part of early pagan religions in the Middle East. Early writings on jinn describe them as invisible creatures who could easily help or harm humans. With the rise of Islam, the jinn were incorporated into the Quran and reimagined as beings parallel to humans who were subject to the judgment of God.
The Pishachas
In Hinduism and Buddhism, there exist creatures known as pishachas. Basically, a pishacha is a demon that eats the flesh of humans and is considered the physical manifestation of all that is evil in the world. Due to their affinity for evil, pishachas are said to live in the darkness and linger in areas where people have been cremated. Like demons in other mythologies, it is said that they are able to change their forms and possess human beings. One who has been possessed by a pishacha is believed to be doomed to descend completely into insanity.
The Vetala
Zombies have become quite popular in media over the last few decades, with shows like “The Walking Dead” captivating audiences across the world. However, the concept of reanimated corpses is nothing new. In Hindu mythology, there exists a creature known as a vetala, which is basically a spirit trapped between death and the afterlife. A vetala will possess and animate dead bodies in cemeteries in order to disturb the living. It is said that these spirits have great knowledge of the past, present, and future. Due to this, many mortals have sought out vetala as fortune tellers.
The Dybbuk
According to Judaism, a life of sin can easily lead to an unpleasant afterlife. In Jewish mythology, a dybbuk is the spirit of a sinner who has died. A dybbuk is said to be malicious in nature and able to possess a living person’s body. In both Judaism and Christianity, demons are responsible for a majority of human possessions. A dybbuk is unique in that it is one of the few ghosts that can take over a human in order to fulfill its own goals. In some depictions, dybbuk specifically possess brides the night before their weddings.
The Pretas
If you’ve ever had a hunger you can’t seem to satisfy, you might be curious to learn about pretas. Found in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese folk religion, pretas are said to be the spirits of humans who were incredibly greedy, jealous, or deceitful while alive. Due to karmic retribution, pretas are cursed to feel hunger or thirst that can never be relieved. What’s more, pretas will typically crave something absolutely horrifying like the flesh of dead bodies or human and animal feces. Pretas are also said to have terrifying visions and often see the world as covered in filth.
The Disturbing Side of Religion
While all religions have a fair share of positive messages and lessons on morality, there are also plenty of creepy and disturbing monsters found in their teachings. By learning more about these creatures, you not only can stay educated on different cultures, but you can also avoid disturbing any malevolent forces.