Jenny C. (jennykay023) reviewed This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I think Peretti's style is just not for me. It seemed as though the more I read the longer it took, almost like I would never get through the book (this is the second book I've read by him and it was the same).
The story is well thought out and interesting going through the struggles of spiritual warfare. It discusses the angles and the demons and how they influence people. The story in an of itself was a good one, I just disagree with the way the author presented some Eastern religions, philosophies, and practices; namely Tai Chi, Yoga, and Toa-ism (these were specifically mentioned among others). It made it seem as though one could not practice or study any of these beliefs without the inherent goal of becoming a psychic, having an outer body experience, or causing great evil.
I realize he is a Christian author and I am a Christian. I just feel that Christians should look at more than JUST the Christian side of things and try to understand others instead of always telling them they are wrong and demanding they change to the Christian ways (I know this is a generalization and not all Christians are this way, it is just what others think of when they think of Christians and how it was presented to me in the books).
The story is well thought out and interesting going through the struggles of spiritual warfare. It discusses the angles and the demons and how they influence people. The story in an of itself was a good one, I just disagree with the way the author presented some Eastern religions, philosophies, and practices; namely Tai Chi, Yoga, and Toa-ism (these were specifically mentioned among others). It made it seem as though one could not practice or study any of these beliefs without the inherent goal of becoming a psychic, having an outer body experience, or causing great evil.
I realize he is a Christian author and I am a Christian. I just feel that Christians should look at more than JUST the Christian side of things and try to understand others instead of always telling them they are wrong and demanding they change to the Christian ways (I know this is a generalization and not all Christians are this way, it is just what others think of when they think of Christians and how it was presented to me in the books).
Marie L. (fencerchica) reviewed This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness on + 47 more book reviews
I enjoyed reading this book as strictly a fantasy novel. Frank Peretti is a genuinely talented writer and his characters are convincing, touching, and three-dimensional. I found myself liking and sympathizing with them even when I vehemently disagreed with their worldviews.
However, I completely agree with reviewers who note the very disturbing harshness of the conservative Christian beliefs that are expressed in this book. I found Peretti's contempt and hostility toward the spiritual traditions of non-Western cultures to be profoundly distasteful.
It's hard to look past this aspect of the book, because since God and angels are major characters in it, it's not just a matter of a flawed human character expressing condemnation of Asian culture, but rather of God himself doing so. It's really sad that Peretti and his co-religionists seem to be totally unable to regard people of different traditions as having a perspective worthy of respect.
However, I completely agree with reviewers who note the very disturbing harshness of the conservative Christian beliefs that are expressed in this book. I found Peretti's contempt and hostility toward the spiritual traditions of non-Western cultures to be profoundly distasteful.
It's hard to look past this aspect of the book, because since God and angels are major characters in it, it's not just a matter of a flawed human character expressing condemnation of Asian culture, but rather of God himself doing so. It's really sad that Peretti and his co-religionists seem to be totally unable to regard people of different traditions as having a perspective worthy of respect.
Christie B. (Books4myAbby) reviewed This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness on + 2 more book reviews
Haven't read this book
