In The Name Of Satan How The Forces Of Evil Work And What You Can Do To Defeat Them

Rating:
Summary: Self-serving foolishness
Review: According to Bob Larson, Satan is behind a massive, worldwide conspiracy of deceit and domination. "In the Name of Satan" is an incredibly narcissistic book in which author Larson depicts himself as the brave hero who is risking his life to take a stand against the Devil. If I were the Devil, I would not waste my energy against an opponent whose best weapon is a sloppy mess like this book.

Throughout "In the Name of Satan," Larson refers to Satanic atrocities and conspiracies, but fails to produce a shred of documentation. One of his more ridiculous claims involves being impersonated by demons. Another relates a close encounter with Satan's horse. Reading his rantings I was reminded of the notorious Senator Joe McCarthy, whose witch hunt for suspected Communists ruined many lives. We can be thankful that Bob Larson does not hold a senate seat, and has to use the writing of laughable books as the outlet for his obsession.

The self-portrait that Bob Larson creates in this book is far more disturbing than the description of any demon. In chapter 12, for example, he describes how he burned a Balinese wooden carving because he believed a demon was "drawing strength from it." I wonder--could book burning be Larson's next strategy?

The overall air of obsessive self-love gives the book an unintentionally humorous quality. Towards the end of the book, for example, he includes an anonymous (first name only) letter from a girl who writes, "Bob Larson is the most special person in the world." I get the sense that Larson really believes that line!

Larson's book is a good documentary example of a certain breed of Christianity: this particular belief system seems to be more fixated on Satan than on Jesus. Perhaps it would be more accurate to refer to Larson's religious tradition as "Satanophobism" rather than Christianity.

This is a book which lacks credibility. It will appeal to naive individuals with low self esteem who want to imagine themselves as courageous soldiers in Larson's anti-Satanic army. For the rest of us, it provides an interesting, if ineptly written, glimpse into the psychology of contemporary religious fanaticism.

Rating:
Summary: ATTENTION PARENTS: DO NOT BUY THIS ONE!
Review: Because this is so weak,lame and false that will turn your childern into mindless apes! Beware! Here is a man with no morality, no sensitivity and absolutely no knowledge of what he's talking about! If you want to teach your childern what to be afraid off by something from Aleister Crowly!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious dreck!
Review: Bob Larson is the funniest man on television. An impotent Cotton Mathers with greasy skin and sleazball suit, he trumpets his gospel of paranoia to a captive audience (most of his parishoners undoubtedly having come from a mental hospital). This book follws the grand tradition of Montegue Summers and Hal Lindsay. Meaning that its a mix of misinformation and fictions arising from a psyche that would make a Freudian scream with delight. Witness the demoniac origin of masturbation illucidated in this massive slander, and see what I mean. Page after page of this book is an insult to every religion besides the authors own. Buddhism, Hinduism, Wicca, and yes, Satanism are all flagrently misrepresented. Larson's exploits among his wicked quaries are enough to make Max Weber give up anthropology and take up coin collecting. Has the man never heard of "valueless anthropology"? Recomended for a good laugh, after which it should be promptly consigned to the flames of a Solstice needfire.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious dreck!
Review: Bob Larson is the funniest man on television. An impotent Cotton Mathers with greasy skin and sleazball suit, he trumpets his gospel of paranoia to a captive audience (most of his parishoners undoubtedly having come from a mental hospital). This book follws the grand tradition of Montegue Summers and Hal Lindsay. Meaning that its a mix of misinformation and fictions arising from a psyche that would make a Freudian scream with delight. Witness the demoniac origin of masturbation illucidated in this massive slander, and see what I mean. Page after page of this book is an insult to every religion besides the authors own. Buddhism, Hinduism, Wicca, and yes, Satanism are all flagrently misrepresented. Larson's exploits among his wicked quaries are enough to make Max Weber give up anthropology and take up coin collecting. Has the man never heard of "valueless anthropology"? Recomended for a good laugh, after which it should be promptly consigned to the flames of a Solstice needfire.

Rating:
Summary: Was he lying in the book, or on the radio?
Review: Christian Research Institute president Hank Hanegraaff once said that Larson wouldn't know a demon "if it bit him in the rear," and this book supports his contention. During Larson's on-air live radio exorcisms, the purported demons never challenge him about his litany of personal sins (e.g., adultery, lying, avarice), and always obey relevant FCC regulations regarding profanity ... but in the book, they are purportedly aggressive, exploiting any and all weaknesses in an exorcist's life to gain an upper hand. Is Bob Larson lying on the air, or in this book? You make the call.

Rating:
Summary: People focus to much on T.V.
Review: I have been studying religion ever scince I left the L.D.S. church over ten years ago. Being raised in a area of only 9000 people,(and 95% percent being Mormon), I really was never exposed to different religions until I moved to S. California. I feel that Mr. Larson is getting people upset and hysterical over something that is not as serious as he makes it be. For a long time I belived that anyone who worshipped satan was evil. However recently I have come to relize that several of my best friends are Satan worshippers. And guess what? They don't wear black robes and sneak into graveyards to bite the heads off of chickens. They just beleive something different than others. I choose not to believe in what they do and they respect that. I would also like to point out to Mr. Larson that satanism is considered a religion, and is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. I am in the process of writing my own book on the subject of Religion where Satanism will play a big part.

Rating:
Summary: Personal attacks donot a review make
Review: Many of the reviewers are too busy bashing this man personally that they are not taking the time to actually review the book. The point of this book is to know thy enemy. Knowledge and the awareness of spiritual warfare is key in every christian's success.

That being said, I enjoyed this book immensely, especially when Mr. Larson explains how demons work in groups and a pyramid heirarchy, with the stronger demons at the top drawing energy and power from the weaker ones. I am reminded of Jesus' conversation with the demon possessed man and when Christ asked the demon possessed man,"What is your name?" the man replied,"Legion, for we are many." This is a point that Bob Larson hits on as well as how demons, once they are expelled will sometimes return with other demons in order to repossess a person and this time the person is worse than before.

THe old saying, "The greatest trick the devil ever played on man was convincing man he doesnot exist." Bob Larson not only verifies the existence of Satan but of Satan's henchmen, a legion of fallen angels that Satan took with him to earth in rebellion against God.

Rating:
Summary: "God, the Devil, and Bob"
Review: This was the best book I have read on this subject! I thought it was practical, coherent, and non-sensational. I also would like to say that some of the other reviews of this book were quite harsh. Could it be, Bob challenges their pre-conceived theological positions? Bob also points out throughout the book how the Lord has led him to "modify" his own beliefs. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels led to do spiritual warfare.

Rating:
Summary: Be informed about issues like this...
Review: Unlike the traditional seminary student, I come to Bob Larson's In The Name Of Satan with some skepticism...and annoyance. Here is a man who thinks it is his "unique ministry" to cast out demons (pg. IX). Scripture supports no claims of a full-time ministry of casting out devils and/or demons. In fact, of the twelve cases of demon possession recorded in Scripture, Jesus Christ was present in seven of them. Actually, the whole idea of a non-traditional ministry of "exorcism" holds no validity within the confines of authentic Christianity. While Larson's stories may be true and factual, his book seems to be more the diary of an attention starved mad man on the lookout for the next incident in which he can display his powers over demons. His personal "journey" from what he calls "the safe confines of traditional ministry" (pg. XI) into his present calling as "the exorcist" is preposterous. In fact, the Bible records not one incident in which Jesus or his disciples went out "looking" for people who were demon possessed. The pattern we find in the Bible is one of dealing with each situation as it presented itself within the context of everyday ministry. This is a far cry from Bob's worldwide travel extravaganzas where he was charting new ground in everyday exorcisms. In The Name Of Satan is a surreal look at the dark world of demonic possession, but it lacks integrity, both in authorship and, more importantly, Scriptural support. Because of this deficiency it lacks credibility with its reader and falls short of persuading me to jump on the "exorcism" bandwagon. The book is a collection of interrelated stories of Bob's own encounters with demonic possession. (Strangely missing though is any eyewitness accounts of the events that Larson so vividly describes.) From demonic possession in Singapore to the teenager possessed in a rural Canadian community to Randy, the teenage boy possessed because he loved his car. Bob's stories are well told. No doubt intended to create an emotional link between the reader, the author, and the victim. However, missing from the emotional euphoria is any credible data to support his well-endowed chronicles of life in demon land. Mr. Larson forwarded an almost incredible hypothesis on page 180, when he suggested the various items that should be present at an exorcism. Not surprisingly, was his recommendation of the Bible (King James Version or New King James Version)-by all accounts an excellent recommendation. Next he proceeded to mention the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as a proven resource in the exorcism "tool belt." Perhaps I have overlooked them, but the Bible, as we have it now, and the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance were not available to Jesus and His followers when they were involved in casting out demons. Involving one's self in spiritual warfare of the nature that Larson elaborates on is going to take a lot more than a Bible and a Strong's Concordance. It is going to take inordinate amounts of faith in the living and true God, as well as a healthy respect and understanding of the supernatural forces at work in this world. While Mr. Larson may have a good understanding of demon possession, he shows no signs of a healthy respect for it. He seems to criss-cross the country looking for the next place to show off his ability and talent as an exorcist, and his book has more the feel of a tabloid magazine than an actual and factual attempt to help Christians understand the very depths of depravity that exist physically and spiritually in this world.