Angels & Demons

In this text, we will explore what angels and demons “desire,” not only in a religious sense, but also from a philosophical and psychological perspective. We will see that the difference between them cannot be reduced to a simple division between good and evil. Rather, it is a story about two ways of relating to reality: one that seeks unity, meaning, and connection, and another that strives for autonomy, control, and isolation.

En este texto, examinaremos qué “desean” los ángeles y los demonios, no solo en un sentido religioso, sino también filosófico y psicológico. Veremos que la diferencia entre ellos no se reduce a una simple división entre el bien y el mal. Más bien, es una historia sobre dos formas de relacionarse con la realidad: una que busca la unidad, el sentido y la conexión, y otra que aspira a la autonomía, el control y el aislamiento.

W tym tekście przyjrzymy się temu, czego „pragną” anioły i demony, nie tylko w sensie religijnym, ale także filozoficznym i psychologicznym. Zobaczymy, że różnica między nimi nie sprowadza się do prostego podziału na dobro i zło. Jest raczej opowieścią o dwóch sposobach odnoszenia się do rzeczywistości: jednym, który szuka jedności, sensu i relacji, oraz drugim, który dąży do autonomii, kontroli i izolacji.

1. Do angels and demons even desire at all?

In classical theology (e.g., in the work of Thomas Aquinas):

• angels and demons do not have bodies, so they do not possess biological desires (hunger, sex, survival),
• their “desire” is an act of will and understanding.

This means:

• they perceive things more directly than humans,
• their choices are more final and enduring.

→ That is why it is said that:

• an angel “once chose good” and remains in it,
• a demon “once chose rejection” and remains in it.

2. What do angels desire?

a) Union with the absolute

Angels “desire” what theology calls the beatific vision, the full knowledge of God.

This is not ordinary knowledge:

• it is a state of complete fulfillment,
• nothing is lacking anymore.

→ Their desire is not tension, but fullness.

b) Order and harmony

Angels are often described as guardians of order:

• cosmic,
• moral,
• spiritual.

Their “activity” consists in:

• supporting good,
• inspiring,
• protecting.

c) The good of others

In many traditions, an angel:

• is not focused on itself,
• acts “toward others.”

→ One could say their desire is pure giving, without ego.

3. What do demons desire?

Here it becomes subtler, because demons often have not stopped desiring good, they desire it in a distorted way.

a) Absolute autonomy

A key theme (e.g., in Augustine of Hippo):

• the demon wants to be like God, but without God.

That means:

• it does not want dependence,
• it does not want relationship,
• it wants to be its own source.

→ This desire is impossible to fulfill, and therefore produces frustration.

b) Domination instead of unity

Instead of „being together”:

• the demon wants to rule,
• to subordinate others to its will.

This is the difference:

• angel → relationship,
• demon → control.

c) Destruction as a substitute for meaning

Since it cannot achieve fulfillment:

• it tries to “replace” it through:
  • chaos,
  • negation,
  • destruction of good.

→ This is not pure “love of evil,” but rather:

• evil as the effect of a distorted desire for good.

4. The key difference: relationship vs. isolation

This can be expressed very simply:

5. A psychological interpretation

If we treat this as a metaphor for the human being:

„The angel within us” desires:

• meaning,
• love,
• transcendence of the ego,
• creation.

„The demon within us” desires:

• immediate gratification,
• control,
• being “above” others,
• avoiding pain at all costs.

→ And here lies the paradox:
Both of these “voices” often want the same thing (for example, happiness), but:

• one leads through relationship and growth,
• the other through shortcuts and domination.

6. The deepest interpretation

One can look even deeper:

• angel = desire that agrees with reality,
• demon = desire that wants to bend reality to itself.

7. Two concluding sentences

→ Angels desire to be part of a greater meaning,
→ Demons desire to be that meaning for themselves.