Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume II/City of God/Book IX/Chapter 11

Chapter 11.—Of the Opinion of the Platonists, that the Souls of Men Become Demons When Disembodied.

He says, indeed, that the souls of men are demons, and that men become Lares if they are good,  Lemures or Larv&#230; if they are bad, and Manes if it is uncertain whether they de

serve well or ill.&#160; Who does not see at a glance that this is a mere whirlpool sucking men to moral destruction?&#160; For, however wicked men have been, if they suppose they shall become Larv&#230; or divine Manes, they will become the worse the more love they have for inflicting injury; for, as the Larv&#230; are hurtful demons made out of wicked men, these men must suppose that after death they will be invoked with sacrifices and divine honors that they may inflict injuries.&#160; But this question we must not pursue.&#160; He also states that the blessed are called in Greek &#949;&#8016;&#948;&#945;&#8055;&#956;&#959;&#957;&#949;&#962;, because they are good souls, that is to say, good demons, confirming his opinion that the souls of men are demons.