Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: psburns@lims04.lerc.nasa.gov (MAUREEN BURNS) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 2 May 91 08:36:38 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center Lines: 43 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , shralp@buhub.bradley.edu (Jamie McDonald) writes... > > I just picked up Frank Peretti's book on spiritual warfare entitled >_This_Present_Darkness. For those who have read/heard of it: > > Opinions? I think Mr. Peretti is very talented, using excellent >imagery, and it's great to see the good guys win without worrying about >whether their methods are good as well. > Also, how much realism do you perceive in such things as "prayer >cover," the casting out of demons, etc? I personally have difficulty >with thinking that prayer suffices merely to help "heavenly warriors." >I like to think it goes directly to the big guy. > Yes, I realize that this is just a fictional work, yet because >it's written as a _Christian_ fictional work it seems that some ideas of >the author are included. > > BTW, anyone have knowledge of the movie that's is supposed to be >made of it by the same people who did Indiana Jones? Or is this just an >evil rumor? > > > My opinion of the book (and the sequel "Piercing the Darkness") is that they are both excellent, not only from a literature point of view, but from a scriptural point of view. Ephesians chapter 6 talks about the spiritual warfare we as Christians are all involved in, in varying degrees. Second only to the Bible, the two novels did more to enhance and challenge my prayer life. I became more appreciative of the power of prayer, and I began to really see how God was answering them. I learned to be more specific in my prayers, and to be aware of prayer needs around me. I believe that Satan and his demons are influencing every aspect of our lives , and that they are repelled by the power and blood of Jesus. After all, they were completely defeated at the cross, and his eternal destruction and damnation is a surety. Maureen BTW--I have heard that there is a movie in the making based on the book. But as Hollywood rarely stands for anything Christian, I am curious to see how much of the Christian message of salvation, Jesus, prayer and goodness is preserved and emphasized, instead of the evil, darkness, Satanic influence which seems to appeal so much to the world.