Dealing with demons

My daughter, Sara, is working on her seminary degree, at Malone University.  Last night we were talking about one of her courses and it fascinated me as I heard her talk about what she was learning on the subject of Spiritual Warfare.   The professor was a Methodist preacher, received his Th. D from a fine school, and cannot be put in a category of any kind of a quack.   I listened to her talk for a long time and kept writing down questions I wanted to look up on the computer as soon as the conversation was over.   All I really knew about the subject was:  (1) Jesus and his disciples were constantly casting out demons  (Mark 1:39, l John 5:19 are two examples where this is mentioned.).

I also have heard Mission speakers talk about the spiritual warfare that is going on in Africa, Asia--especially Korea, where missionaries are forced to deal with the interplay of good versus evil realities in their taking the message of Christ to the people in the area.   I know both of these things and I know that there is evil in the world and I know the image of Satan "The Evil One".  I barely know something about the "Generational Curse" that was prevalent from the time of Moses but the idea of a personal demon inside me , or anyone I might want or need to know, that needs to be driven out of me --I don't want to comprehend that.  Sure I need to make some changes in my life but I want to think that such a change is something that I can handle all by myself.  So I will continue to read on and I will continue to talk with my daughter.  I will not close my mind and say that this has to be some kind of drivel or it is part of a mission problem and is not happening here.

The basic question about this whole subject, to me, is do I believe in the existence of evil spirits?
I never asked myself that question before but yes, I do.  I see people and I read about people who are consumed by evil.  How they became so evil is up for grabs for me mentally!   Is it the result of generational sin or the environment in which they were raised or are they possessed by a demon?
The need for answers to this question is creeping into our society in acceptable ways such as laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and exorcism.  Denominations deal with the questions differently.

I need to continue thinking and reading about this.