This Present Darkness (2 cassettes)

Rating:
Summary: Just beneath the surface......
Review: Of the Christian novels I have read, this is easily the best. The followup, "Piercing the Darkness," is a disappointing sequel, and the famous "Left Behind" series left me cold before I had finished the first installment, being sadly predictable and written in such a superficial style that it seemed to have been solely aimed at a junior high school reading level. Peretti's style, however, is more advanced and draws in the more experienced readers among us as well as those younger.

We humans are bound by our five physical senses. Beyond that, we have little idea what may be happening among the principalities and powers of the air. Scripture gives us a few glimpses, and long religious tradition has fleshed out some ideas, of what is going on between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. In this novel Peretti does a credible and intriguing job of putting names and personalities to the various characters and forces involved in the spiritual warfare around us and within us, and the story ultimately is unforgettable.

My only quibbles with this excellent work are that the answers to these issues are a little too pat, the solutions to the problems a bit too neat. I am fully willing to admit that this may be my own lack of spiritual perception regarding the invisible realm, but it just smacks sometimes of being a bit too easy and convenient, as if the book too often allows its built-in deus ex machina to intrude on the action. Still, the book is well worth four stars and worth reading and rereading.

Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Warfare a little sensationalised?
Review: This is a Christian novel which has sold over one millioncopies. Although the story is fictitious, it brings home the starkreality of what believers face and encounter in everyday life.

The scene is set in an American town called Ashton. Seemingly insignificant to most people, but to the strongman and his demons, there were great plans for this town.

Yes, this is a book about Spiritual Warfare, angels and demons and good triumphing over evil.

Enter the good guys:

Hank Busche, a 26 year old Pastor of the Ashton Community Church.

Marshall Hogan, editor of the local newspaper, the Ashton Clario; and last but not least, Tal, Captain of the angelic warriors, planning to thwart the assignment of the strongman and his demons.

This book brings mome the importance of prayer cover, the reality of a common enemy and his schemes and deceptions, and the need of "having done all to stand".

By the same token, the vivid imagery and fight scenes described may be a little "over the top".

On the whole it is good reading and once you start, you'll find it difficult to put down.

Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Battles Brought To Life
Review: This is a wonderful book! Frank Peretti writes in a style that is engaging and suspensful. He weaves together a plot involving both a human struggle of philosophical and political agendas, and the spiritual battle occuring at the same time between the spiritual forces of good (Angels) and evil (Demons). It is this weaving of the plot between everyday issues and spiritual long term agendas that is the most compelling reason to read this book. The spiritual battles come to life in such a vivid way, that you may never view your life in the same way again! The images of how the spiritual battles are waged between God's Angels and the principalities of darkness, and how people are used for purposes beyond thier personal agendas, are presented in a manner which turns the perception of current events into something perhaps more than they appear to be. The book starts a bit slow, seemingly the day in the life of a small town, but once the plotlines start coming together you won't be able to put it down. The main characters are developed well, and are presented as real people who could be our neighbors. It is fiction all the way, so don't expect an academic thesis on the supernatural and Biblical themes of spiritual realms, simply enjoy the story and the message. I have given copies of this book to dozens of people and have not had anyone, Christian or Athiest, not enjoy the story. I highly recommend this book, as well as it's sequel: "Piercing The Darkness".

Rating:
Summary: Shedding some light on "This Present Darkness"
Review: This work of fiction by Frank Peretti draws a picture of the underlying spiritual powers at war in this world. He draws his inspiration from the Biblical passage Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." The general plot line focuses on two main characters, a pastor and a newspaperman, who live in the small town of Ashton, where corruption and deception are threatening to creep in and turn the people to new-age occultism. The plot gripped my attention, and the characters were well developed. Clever twists in the story also kept me reading.

Further, the book is a good encouragement to prayer, an often underutilized aspect of Christian life. The colorful portrayals of angels and demons is primarily speculation, but mostly harmless. I would recommend reading "This Present Darkness," but one should make sure to keep the Biblical perspective on angels and demons in focus.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Page-Turner
Review: With THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, Frank Peretti broke onto the scene by graphically tearing back the veil between our world and the spirit world. Descending upon the small town of Ashton, angels, demons, and strongmen engage in vivid spiritual battle and we, the reader, are able to see it all unfold. Ever wonder what exactly a guardian angel might do? Here's one possible scenario.

While Peretti's theology on the subject may not be perfect (many of his ideas are pure speculation, but that's why it's "fiction"), he does most definitely give us a bold reason as to why prayer is so vital. Why prayer does, in fact, move mountains and can turn the tide in unseen spiritual battles that are taking place around us (as happens in the book of Daniel). For that reason alone, THIS PRESENT DARKNESS is worth reading.

To be fair, this is not Peretti's best written book. THE OATH and THE VISITATION are both more sound, from a literary perspective (real character development, for example, isn't the best here). But before the LEFT BEHIND series, no other Christian novels were as widely read as this and its sequel. It is a true Christian fiction classic and a real page-turner that will have you burning the midnight oil. FOUR 1/2 STARS.