Why are demons more active in animistic cultures?

Why does demonic activity seem more active in animistic cultures? Superstition!

Superstition is the lever by which weak demons produce the appearance of great and frightening power.

They will make efficient use of the local superstitions and expectations of a group, village, church, whatever, and they will create schemes to fit those localities. Given the right superstitious package, the demon can scare a group to death, destruction or at least exhibit control.

I used to believe that the economy of the demonic world was power, I don't believe that anymore, they trade and work in superstition. Our own superstition and expectations 'empower' (actually it's all an illusion) the demons. Take away superstition by teaching a Biblical worldview and preaching the Gospel and removing fearfulness and you have removed the demons ability to affect people.

There are three beliefs regarding demons but only these first two are common:

1. Demons exist and they are powerful and frightening, and
2. Demons do not exist, they are explained by natural phenomena and subconscious brain functions.

The third, and I believe Biblical response is that demons DO exist but they were greatly weakened at the establishment of the Kingdom. Any real power is gone and they must rely on misconceptions, fears and superstitions BUT that is enough. Demons have studied humans since we were created. They know our weaknesses, they know how susceptible we are to fear and that we can be controlled by it.

1 John 2:4

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.

This verse tells us that the one who keeps the commandments out of gratitude and knowledge of God is the one who has perfect love. Many try to obey out of fear, THAT is superstition. If we fail, we have a High Priest who makes intercession. There is no need to fear. John goes on to say in 4:12:

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

We must love one another and again this perfects our love.

Finally in verse 16 he says,

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Hebrews 2:14,15 also summarize the release from the fear of death that Satan had been able to use in is arsenal of schemes:

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

John tells us HOW love is perfected and then gives us the most powerful weapon against the demonic - love that is perfected by God's removal of future punishment, love of our brother, knowledge of Him, hatred of the world - THESE things cast out fear. Where there is no fear, there is no foothold for the devil. He may accuse but it has no effect, he will attack the sovereignty of God and the authority of Christ but we KNOW GOD.

The doctrines of the sovereignty of God and the authority of Christ allow us to pull the curtain back and see that the Devil, with his ability to breed fear like the "Great and Powerful Oz", is really just a weakling who knows how to manipulate those who aren't as smart as he is. He may understand physics, psychology, chemistry, anatomy and the art of illusion but he is a toothless and defeated lion. Don't be fooled, don't be frightened.