Opposing Forces: The Metaphysical War Between Good and Evil and the Shaping of Secular Modern Progress

by Albert Ramos

Opposing Forces is a book that tells the story of God against the Devil. It is a story that entails the need to defeat evil. As the war against Satan unfolded through out the centuries, the notion of conflictive progress was taking shape. Indeed, Opposing Forces is a book that shows why and how faith in progress has been a concern in Western Civilization. The secularization of progress, Ramos argues, comes from the conflict between good and evil. Although addressing social evil has been a concern, the bottom line is that the destruction of the Devil has been much more important. Therefore, the war against the Devil and his minions have been expressed theologically and through literature, literature that includes novels and films. Defeating evil becomes the task of the protagonist. He or she confronts a powerful evil force, a quest that takes on mythological attributes. One can find the war against evil in the silver screen. Or, one can find spiritual combat against the Devil in the arena of demonic possession. Either way, evil is destined to loose before a higher plateau of good's existence is achieved.

660 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2017

Reviews

[James Gault · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of its very specific title, Albert Ramos’ book provided us with a comprehensive historical survey of all the Eurasian religions from the earliest times to the present day. Its overriding theme is the concept of evil and its importance and relevance in various religions at different times in history. And its underlying premise is that morality is not set by a deity, but is an outcome of social and political conditions in any particular place and time. Morality is therefore relative: it varies over time and between cultures.

I couldn’t discern a real central message to the book, but this does not detract from its value as an ideal reference book for anyone interested in the Good vs Evil story through time and across cultures. My interest was as a student of moral philosophy and the philosophy of religion, but I could also imagine writers or lovers of fantasy or historical novels using it to discover factual background to their stories. Those interested in theology or religious studies would also find something there for them.

The book is written in a strict academic style and it can be a hard read at times, with long sentences the understanding of which needs a bit of work by the reader. Also, it is organised generally in chronological order, but by topic within that, and this results in some repetition of information. This is not a problem, and in fact is necessary if you are using the book for reference.

The table of contents is informative and helpful, and there is a good bibliography. Nevertheless, an index would have added considerably to its usefulness. For example, this would have allowed me to gather together the views of particular theologians and philosophers, which the author in in general treats in several places spread throughout out the book. In spite of these small criticisms, I found this book a valuable addition to my library.

[John Dill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the subject matter of this book is not something one generally selects for entertainment, clearly it was written for educational value. I found it to be well orchestrated, easily trackable in terms of the various evolvements in moral thinking and very in-depth I would have liked to see an inclusion of art in the list of causative agents responsible for each splinter and regrouping of cultural norms surrounding the rise of the religious contribution to humanities moral compass. I know from experience many folks who witness religious expressions related to this issue are there for the entertainment and curiosity value, as much as personal participation. I am glad I purchased my own copy of this volume as I will be referencing its many contributions in Book Four of my own series that includes many morally significant threads in its story. Clearly the author invested a tremendous amount of his life in the gathering of all this information. For this alone this book deserves a five star rating.

[Katie Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Albert Ramos’ Opposing Forces: The Metaphysical War Between Good and Evil and the Shaping of Secular Modern Progress, creates a full historical picture of the dichotomy of good and evil throughout the ages. Well researched and thought out, Ramos’ book covers the birth of religion straight through to modern times extensively covering Europe and the United States. Ramos’ does an extraordinary job of connecting these cultures with this dichotomy, showing their similarities as well as their differences throughout history. He then connects it back to pop culture and how the ideas of both good and evil have changed over the centuries. Ramos’ creates an interesting read that gives the reader a glimpse into a part of history that connects the world.