PY – “Yes, clearly the Rambam is lsheetoso. If he believes sheidim don’t exist, then the only way he can explain those gemaros is to say they are not-literal.”
No, he simply translates the word sheid differently in each case. For instance, I once learned a gemora that said that if a sheid gave hasrah (warning) to somebody and there were aidim, he’s chayiv. The Rambam in that case writes that the Gemora is referring to voice from a source that is not visible (ie somebody hiding behind a wall).
“Possibly the belief in demons was a fear that people had in earlier times. Before people began to understand that disease was caused by germs, genetics or other natural causes, possibly it was common that great fear of unknown or supernatural beings existed because they were thought to be a cause.”
Wow, talk about controversial. But there are stories in the Gemora of amoraim actually fighting off sheidim, so it’s rather hard to say sheidim were a figment of their imagination.
“What disturbs me is that many of the non-Jewish demons had the same names as the Jewish ones.”
Maybe they got the names from us?
“I find it troubling that these concepts have entered Yiddishkeit when they seem like Avoda Zara, and pagan beliefs. Don’t frum Jews believe that Hashem runs the show, period?”
Again, nobody is saying that sheidim can do things without Hashem’s approval/instruction. I always thought that they operated like a wild animal: a ferocious, monstrous creature that can tear you limb from limb. After all, just because there are wild animals doesn’t mean that Hashem CH”V isn’t running the show, does it?