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: tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 2 May 91 08:43:26 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: State University of New York at Binghamton 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. I found _This Present Darkness_ and _Piercing The Darkness_ to be *gripping* novels. I can't say I agree with all of the theology expressed, but he does raise some interesting questions. (Like differentiate for me between "Channeling" and "Demon Posession"). > 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. I don't believe Mr. Peretti means to imply that prayer merely helps "heavenly warriors", I think he'd agree with you about prayer going straight to "the big guy". Mr. Peretti does personify many things, we see good things being worked by the "heavenly warriors", and bad things being wrought by "demons". My personal theology doesn't personify quite that much, but I have to admit he's got me thinking. > 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. Yeah, that's for sure. One clergy friend who I pointed to the books recommended them to another clergy friend (in my presence), said (heavy paraphrase), well, it's got about as much to do with theology as a good SciFi novel, but it's a great book! (We've often had discussions about the theology of SciFi novels, just so you don't think he completely dismissed the theology.) I heartily recommend both of these novels, I recommend them to mystery readers, fantasy readers, and Christians who just like a good read. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton