Since Caoimhe and I are planning on making a podcast in which we review several different stories on various forms of media, I decided that I'm going to put together a review for the book I'm reading now: "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti.
Why? Because as what normally happens in the life of a teenager, there are some days in which thoughts die and happenings just don't happen. Don't worry, I'll search out the elusive purple elephant of randomness tomorrow.
Come to think of it...some of those prom girls probably won't look much better than a purple elephant tomorrow...lol.
Alright, on with the review!
This Present Darkness is a...horror/action/Christian story written by Frank Peretti, geared towards mature young readers and adults. Overall, it deals with issues such as New Age philosophy, prayer, the spiritual realm (from the Christian viewpoint), and to a small extent: family. Frank Perretti develops a compelling plot, and does a very good job making the story increase at a steady pace, reaching a brilliant climax. The story itself is well-written, and the main characters are life-like and believable (for the most part).
However...this guy has bias. Like...bias beyond bias. He uses this story to paint a very disturbing, very unrealistic picture of the New Age philosophy, linking it directly with occultism, eastern mysticism, and Satan-worship. He begins with the assumption that those who read his story (mainly, impressionable, young, church-going Christians) will hate and fear New Age philosophy to a degree similar of how America hated Communism during the beginning of the Cold War. Add to that a plot to take over the world, and he's basically got the story set up to add fear, terror, and hatred of this philosophy.
Now, I'm not saying that I agree with New Age philosophy. I do not. I am a Christian, and have no intention of changing my beliefs. What I'm saying is, is that Peretti is taking it WAY too far. New Age philosophy, as far as I can tell, is simply "agreeing" with everything, to an almost frightening degree. It is this generalized philosphy that says "I believe what I believe, and you can believe what you believe. We'll keep our secrets quiet, and never, ever say that someone is doing wrong." It is this philosophy that silences inidividual beliefs, discouraging our generation from speaking out because no matter what we say, we're all on the right path. I find this wrong, I find this disgusting, and I wish beyond all else that our generation could be taught at least some differentiation between right and wrong. Without that, we are lost.
Anyway, despite all that, I still don't agree with Peretti's viewpoint. There are many many people out there who are influenced by New Age philosophy to some degree. However, of those that do believe in this philosophy, even of those who entirely embrace it, only a very few of those are full-blown Satan worshippers. Peretti portrays that EVERYONE who has to do with New Age philosphy is dabbling in occultic rituals and Satan-worship. In reality, each person who believes this philosophy accepts it to a different degree. These people should be treated with respect, care, kindness and love, not fear and hatred simply for what they believe in.
So, overall, a well-written story, but a very misleading moral.
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I agree. I'm not into New Age philo either but I do believe it's fine for anyone to believe what they want. The reason I don't go along with it though is because of what you said about how they silence their beliefs as well. If they have the right to say whatever they want then I do too. I can tell them what they think is wrong and they can feel free to say what I think is wrong, but I strongly disagree with keeping silent for the sake of avoiding conflict. It just needs to be a discussion instead of a debate.
ReplyDelete*nods* I just don't like it when someone tries to shut down someone else's belief without giving it a serious look-see first. That's the problem I have with this book, and it's also the problem I have with the Golden Compass series. Both authors, in essence, do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed that series as far as its composition and characters. I personally chose to ignore any atheist connections within it because it made me too angry to think of the author's real intentions.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's one of the main reasons why I didn't like that series so much.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to read a book that gives equal time to two very different viewpoints, you should read Flame Tree, it's very good.