How can one explain the authority of Jesus over dark spiritual experiences without accepting mainstream Christian doctrines like eternal hell?
I’m trying to understand how to explain Jesus’ authority over dark spiritual experiences without fully accepting mainstream Christian doctrine.
I’ve had sleep paralysis / oppressive spiritual experiences where calling on Jesus seemed to genuinely help. It felt like real authority, not just psychology.
But I struggle with doctrines like eternal conscious torment in hell, strong original sin theology, and the need to accept an entire institutional dogma package. I’m also no longer comfortable with New Age systems that reduce everything to “love and light,” because some of that now feels spiritually deceptive to me.
Is there a serious spiritual framework that can explain Jesus having real authority over dark forces without requiring belief in eternal hell?
Maybe Christian mysticism, Logos theology, Neoplatonism, esoteric Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Jungian spirituality, or something else?
I’m looking for thoughtful, nuanced answers ,not fear-based preaching, but also not vague New Age answers that deny evil or spiritual deception.