Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: John.Shipley@ebay.sun.com (John Shipley) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 24 May 91 04:26:09 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 30 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu What drove me crazy while reading This_Present_Darkness was the dichotomy between: 1) The amount of detailed description in the sword-fighting. 2) No angel ever gets "killed", nor does any angel or devil ever have any conception of an angel being "killed". I mean we're talking about something in a class with "Battlestar Galactica"! I get to the end of the book where there is this big sword fight between an angel and a devil - the angel's wings are shredded, one of his arms is immobilized because of his "cuts", and I'm talking to the author: "C'mon Frank, give me a clue whether this angel is in any real danger". But no, the fight drags on and then some prayer heals the angel so he's instantly as good as new again. Pretty silly, IMHO. I pretty much agree with some of the criticisms about the theology of the book (Nancy Tinkham's is one example), but I did like the incident with the angel on the motorcycle. Actually did make me a little teary-eyed. Take care, John Shipley "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." - Julian of Norwich