What do you think?
Rate this book
Playing with Fire: A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts
“Provocative, insightful, and enlightening—a foray into an often-neglected topic that merits more attention than it typically receives.”
--Lee Strobel, New York Times bestselling author of The Case for Christ
What is Our Fascination with the Other Side?
Join investigative reporter Billy Hallowell as he delves into the strange phenomena of supernatural activity. Themes of demonic possession, exorcism, and ghosts have overtaken Hollywood, with countless films and TV shows delving into the age-old struggle against evil. But the question is why?
Even with so much focus on the topic, there seems to be very little public knowledge and discussion about the theology and real-life claims surrounding demons. Quite often, many people remain silent about their experiences or resort to quietly whispering about what they’ve seen, heard, or felt for fear of being labeled as crazy. The truth is, even pastors, priests, and clergy who have observed firsthand accounts of possession and deliverance can succumb to the strange and terrifying effects of intense spiritual warfare.
For people of faith, Playing with Fire addresses these core questions:
Are demons active today?
If they do indeed exist, what are they? Fallen angels? Nephilim?
Can demons inhabit human beings?
According to the Bible, can people die and remain behind as “ghosts”?
Playing with Fire explores the theological underpinnings surrounding the supernatural. Relying on firsthand accounts, newspaper reports, and Christian experts, Hallowell takes readers through the various views and perspectives surrounding supernatural activity.
--Lee Strobel, New York Times bestselling author of The Case for Christ
What is Our Fascination with the Other Side?
Join investigative reporter Billy Hallowell as he delves into the strange phenomena of supernatural activity. Themes of demonic possession, exorcism, and ghosts have overtaken Hollywood, with countless films and TV shows delving into the age-old struggle against evil. But the question is why?
Even with so much focus on the topic, there seems to be very little public knowledge and discussion about the theology and real-life claims surrounding demons. Quite often, many people remain silent about their experiences or resort to quietly whispering about what they’ve seen, heard, or felt for fear of being labeled as crazy. The truth is, even pastors, priests, and clergy who have observed firsthand accounts of possession and deliverance can succumb to the strange and terrifying effects of intense spiritual warfare.
For people of faith, Playing with Fire addresses these core questions:
Are demons active today?
If they do indeed exist, what are they? Fallen angels? Nephilim?
Can demons inhabit human beings?
According to the Bible, can people die and remain behind as “ghosts”?
Playing with Fire explores the theological underpinnings surrounding the supernatural. Relying on firsthand accounts, newspaper reports, and Christian experts, Hallowell takes readers through the various views and perspectives surrounding supernatural activity.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2020
122 people are currently reading
2423 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 1, 2020
PLAYING WITH FIRE - 3/5⭐️ (DNF) ⠀
⠀
After getting through 100 pages (halfway mark), I finally decided to DNF this book.... ⠀
⠀
First let’s talk about the things I liked...⠀
-the writing was very matter of fact, Billy Hallowell is a journalist so it makes sense that his book would still reflect that. ⠀
-the cover is flipping amazing. I mean common, you see this right?! ⠀
-it’s an interesting perspective on demons, etc., through the eyes of the church. ⠀
⠀
Why I couldn’t finish it...⠀
-I’m not Christian and didn’t know it was so heavily focused on faith. So to me, This felt more like bible study then a non-fiction book about demons. ⠀
-I felt hoodwinked; Like I said this book is 90% about faith and 10% demons WHICH IS FINE, but there was no indication that was the premise so I was surprised and constantly waiting for the shift of narrative. ⠀
⠀
I honestly think if you are Christian you would LOVE this book. Billy approaches the topics of demons, ghosts, etc, in an investigative way. This makes the book feel fun and almost like a puzzle you’re trying to piece together. This book was not bad at all, I was still pretty engaged throughout, it just wasn’t for me!
⠀
After getting through 100 pages (halfway mark), I finally decided to DNF this book.... ⠀
⠀
First let’s talk about the things I liked...⠀
-the writing was very matter of fact, Billy Hallowell is a journalist so it makes sense that his book would still reflect that. ⠀
-the cover is flipping amazing. I mean common, you see this right?! ⠀
-it’s an interesting perspective on demons, etc., through the eyes of the church. ⠀
⠀
Why I couldn’t finish it...⠀
-I’m not Christian and didn’t know it was so heavily focused on faith. So to me, This felt more like bible study then a non-fiction book about demons. ⠀
-I felt hoodwinked; Like I said this book is 90% about faith and 10% demons WHICH IS FINE, but there was no indication that was the premise so I was surprised and constantly waiting for the shift of narrative. ⠀
⠀
I honestly think if you are Christian you would LOVE this book. Billy approaches the topics of demons, ghosts, etc, in an investigative way. This makes the book feel fun and almost like a puzzle you’re trying to piece together. This book was not bad at all, I was still pretty engaged throughout, it just wasn’t for me!
October 14, 2020
I consider myself to be pretty rational with scary books and movies, but demonic possession is something that is hard to shake. The idea that someone could take control of your body and mind temporarily, especially for nefarious purposes, quite frankly scares the bejeesus out of me!
In Playing With Fire, Billy Hallowell delves into the history of these, including famous cases, public perception, the Biblical view and foundations for these incidents, and why they might occur.
One aspect that I found interesting in some of the cases was also the role of the media. In several of the more famous cases of possession, mainstream media actually catapulted the story into wide-spread recognition of the case. Today, it seems as though you’d likely see these sorts of stories as tabloid fodder, but in reading the book I realized that wasn’t always the case. Imagine today having the Washington Post cover a demonic possession and exorcism?
In addition to the stories of allegedly real life demonic possessions and exorcisms, the book discusses the Biblical foundations for these events. What exactly are demons and what evidence can we pull from the Bible about them? Also, how do exorcisms work?
For those among us who seek other explanations, you might find the discussion of whether cases of alleged demonic possession could be tied to mental illness or drug abuse, among other more common theories. As always when it comes to religious debate, there is that element that exists for even the most staunch disbelievers that poses the “what if?” of it all. We can’t quite explain rationally what happened. There are theories and there are skeptics, but at it’s core no one can quite explain how it all could possibly be true.
That, I believe, will remain a mystery for us earthlings… And for those of us who choose to believe, keep praying and keep the lights on!
Thank you Thomas Nelson and TLC Book Tours for my copy! Opinions are my own.
In Playing With Fire, Billy Hallowell delves into the history of these, including famous cases, public perception, the Biblical view and foundations for these incidents, and why they might occur.
One aspect that I found interesting in some of the cases was also the role of the media. In several of the more famous cases of possession, mainstream media actually catapulted the story into wide-spread recognition of the case. Today, it seems as though you’d likely see these sorts of stories as tabloid fodder, but in reading the book I realized that wasn’t always the case. Imagine today having the Washington Post cover a demonic possession and exorcism?
In addition to the stories of allegedly real life demonic possessions and exorcisms, the book discusses the Biblical foundations for these events. What exactly are demons and what evidence can we pull from the Bible about them? Also, how do exorcisms work?
For those among us who seek other explanations, you might find the discussion of whether cases of alleged demonic possession could be tied to mental illness or drug abuse, among other more common theories. As always when it comes to religious debate, there is that element that exists for even the most staunch disbelievers that poses the “what if?” of it all. We can’t quite explain rationally what happened. There are theories and there are skeptics, but at it’s core no one can quite explain how it all could possibly be true.
That, I believe, will remain a mystery for us earthlings… And for those of us who choose to believe, keep praying and keep the lights on!
Thank you Thomas Nelson and TLC Book Tours for my copy! Opinions are my own.
October 13, 2021
Some interesting accounts in the beginning lead to a poorly executed theology of demons that takes GotQuestions, Mark Driscoll, and CARM as serious sources.
September 25, 2020
Ghosts Are No Laughing Matter – Read This Book
It’s easy in our world of movies and television to laugh off the spiritual side of life—like ghosts and demons. Journalist Bill Hallowell takes a series look at this topic and backs up his insights with Scripture combined with documented stories and careful research. The spiritual world is real and every Christian needs to understand it. You can gain this insight reading PLAYING WITH FIRE.
As Hallowell writes toward the end of PLAYING WITH FIRE, “After researching the multitude of claims, scriptures, and opinions about the demonic realms that are presented in this book, I can’t help but conclude that the biggest danger pertaining to spiritual warfare and its role in our lives is rooted in our own toxic apathy.” (p. 217-218)
Every Christian will be wise to read PLAYING WITH FIRE and learn from these insights. Ghosts and demonds are no laughing matter. I highly recommend this book.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed .
It’s easy in our world of movies and television to laugh off the spiritual side of life—like ghosts and demons. Journalist Bill Hallowell takes a series look at this topic and backs up his insights with Scripture combined with documented stories and careful research. The spiritual world is real and every Christian needs to understand it. You can gain this insight reading PLAYING WITH FIRE.
As Hallowell writes toward the end of PLAYING WITH FIRE, “After researching the multitude of claims, scriptures, and opinions about the demonic realms that are presented in this book, I can’t help but conclude that the biggest danger pertaining to spiritual warfare and its role in our lives is rooted in our own toxic apathy.” (p. 217-218)
Every Christian will be wise to read PLAYING WITH FIRE and learn from these insights. Ghosts and demonds are no laughing matter. I highly recommend this book.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed .
September 22, 2020
As a christian and a believer, this is the worst book i've read on the subject, rather than an "investigation", it looks more like the author did a quick search on the subject on Google.
"An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels" is way better regarding the subject if anyone is interested.
only not giving one star because for someone completely new to the subject a few things could be interesting
"An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels" is way better regarding the subject if anyone is interested.
only not giving one star because for someone completely new to the subject a few things could be interesting
October 25, 2020
Do you believe?
If you take a moment, it's actually a hard question to answer, no matter where your religious faith lies. I mean, most have experienced that mysterious breeze when no source can be found. Many have felt that phantom touch, turned, and found no one there. Quite a few have even had moments themselves where they feel they have communicated with someone or something otherworldly or previously of our own...and some are rather well documented. These are the matters that this book delves into, in an everyday aspect, but with secular roots.
I can't say it was exactly what I thought it would be, as I suppose my own curiosity with those otherly things was peaked by the initial tease from this book, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. It shed light on some of those more well known cases, shared the behind-the-cloisters viewpoint of those that have had dealings with same said events, and took a closer look at the impact of these darker matters on our lives in general today.
So if you're looking to be spooked, don't...it's not about that. This is about where things got their starts, how we've handled it throughout recent years, and a potential way to move forward with our curious thoughts in tact, while saving adequate space in our souls for our true saviors.
**review copy received for review; opinions are my own
If you take a moment, it's actually a hard question to answer, no matter where your religious faith lies. I mean, most have experienced that mysterious breeze when no source can be found. Many have felt that phantom touch, turned, and found no one there. Quite a few have even had moments themselves where they feel they have communicated with someone or something otherworldly or previously of our own...and some are rather well documented. These are the matters that this book delves into, in an everyday aspect, but with secular roots.
I can't say it was exactly what I thought it would be, as I suppose my own curiosity with those otherly things was peaked by the initial tease from this book, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. It shed light on some of those more well known cases, shared the behind-the-cloisters viewpoint of those that have had dealings with same said events, and took a closer look at the impact of these darker matters on our lives in general today.
So if you're looking to be spooked, don't...it's not about that. This is about where things got their starts, how we've handled it throughout recent years, and a potential way to move forward with our curious thoughts in tact, while saving adequate space in our souls for our true saviors.
**review copy received for review; opinions are my own
October 16, 2020
Talk about a book being out of my usual wheelhouse! But that is what makes reading so enlightening. A book will intrigue and the reader is sent on an adventure they did not expect. Now, I am interested in things that cannot be explained so that is what called to me from the synopsis of this book. I will note that it is written from a Christian point of view using the Bible as a touchstone. I have a grounding in Catholocism but am an Atheist. This gives me the advantage of understanding the Biblical referances but not being a slave to dogma.
This is well researched look at various reports of demonic events and was a fascinating read. It’s not going to be for everyone but if you have an interest in the topic it will draw you in. Just understand that it is really focused on the Biblical view of demonic events and really doesn’t stray from that so the narrative is not as broad as it could be. An understanding of Christian religion helps in reading.
This is well researched look at various reports of demonic events and was a fascinating read. It’s not going to be for everyone but if you have an interest in the topic it will draw you in. Just understand that it is really focused on the Biblical view of demonic events and really doesn’t stray from that so the narrative is not as broad as it could be. An understanding of Christian religion helps in reading.
December 29, 2024
This book has taken me awhile to complete- you have to be in the right mindset to read this book. It is written from a Biblical worldview. I did appreciate how many different perspectives within Christianity were discussed. This is a type of book that keeps you thinking long after you turn the last page.
January 28, 2021
I bought this in a Walmart in the middle of nowhere having no idea what it was. It was so interesting and has convinced me to start reading more nonfiction JHJKJHGJK
July 20, 2021
A quick read that, in my opinion as a practicing Catholic, has a Evangelical Protestant flavor to it (and that's ok!). The author also got information from other Christians such as Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox clergy. I would have liked it to focus more on some demonic issues, but I liked how it was overall written.
Very informative and easy to read.
Very informative and easy to read.
March 25, 2023
I found much of the information in this book interesting, but was very frustrated by the fact that this author didn’t directly address some of the things people he interviewed and quoted said (examples below).
I don’t know if that’s because his actual profession is a journalist, and therefore he’s used to just quoting people and not correcting incorrect things they say, or if he didn’t want to be argumentative, or what.
But I feel that by not addressing some of the incorrect things the people quoted in this book said, that those who read this book and who are not solidly grounded in the Word could be mislead into beliefs that are unbiblical.
“By March 2012- just four months after moving into the home-the strangeness kicked up a notch. Campbell told Kwiatkowski about a night when the family found one of Ammons's children unconscious and levitating. Overwhelmed by the events unfolding in the home, the family sought the help of clairvoyants and local churches. They purportedly burned sage, drew crosses on the hands and feet of the children using olive oil, and attempted various acts recommended to them in an effort to rid the home of the supernatural forces they believed were infesting it.” (pg. 12)
This family, who claim to be Christian, not only sought the help of local churches, but also clairvoyants (physics/mediums). This is EXPRESSLY forbidden in the Bible AND could be what opened them up to demonic activity in the first place.
And while Mr. Hallowell clearly understands that seeking the counsel of mediums is unbiblical (because he addresses the topic of psychics later in the book), he never stops to directly address this incident, and just lets it skate by.
“Another area from which she has seen patients suffer? The occult. ‘We also uncovered sources of abuse suffered from those involved in occult practices ranging from seemingly innocent white witchcraft (Wicca, Paganism, New Age) that includes such activities as astral projection and remote viewing to the darkest possible black witchcraft (perpetrating evil, incanting evil spirits, casting spells and hexes, creating dissociative identities) such as occurs in ritual abuse and satanic rites,’ she wrote.” (pg. 192)
Again, Mr. Hallowell does not address the comment from this person about the “seemingly innocent white magic”. There is no such thing as “innocent” magic, and there is no such thing as “white” magic.
(Talking about treating mental illness) “A denial of the existence of these issues can, at times, harm recovery, she added. ‘Once I witnessed the level of healing that occurs with carefully administered spiritual interventions that are related to specific spiritual experiences that are based on the patient's belief system, there was no going back to using only allopathic medication and non-spiritual psychosocial interventions, even in spite of the criticisms from others,’ Moller wrote.” (pg. 195-196)
What exactly does it mean that this doctor (a professed Christian) treats her patients based on their specific “belief systems”? Is she treating them for spiritual issues based on the teachings of Islam if that is their belief system? How would that help them, when we as Christians know that healing is only found in the truth of Jesus?
I found things like this very frustrating about this book.
In addition to the above quotes, I also took issue with the way the author didn’t firmly deal with the topic of ghosts (ghosts are not the spirits of departed loved ones, they are demons. Human beings either go to heaven or hell when they die. This should not even be open to debate in Christian circles).
And lastly I am in strong disagreement with the way the Catholic church handles exorcisms (among other things). No where in the Bible does it teach that exorcisms can only be done by trained professionals, or that they must take days/weeks/months to do, or that they should be violent in nature, etc.
All examples in the Bible of demons being cast out of people are done in seconds, with the mere command for them to depart because of the authority of Jesus’ name, and the person is not harmed (or usually even physically touched) in the process.
For these reasons and others I am giving this book 3 stars.
There were a lot of areas where the author and I are in agreement on things, but the fact that he didn’t firmly address unbiblical things that the people he interviewed said and just let the quotes slide was very aggravating to me.
I don’t know if that’s because his actual profession is a journalist, and therefore he’s used to just quoting people and not correcting incorrect things they say, or if he didn’t want to be argumentative, or what.
But I feel that by not addressing some of the incorrect things the people quoted in this book said, that those who read this book and who are not solidly grounded in the Word could be mislead into beliefs that are unbiblical.
“By March 2012- just four months after moving into the home-the strangeness kicked up a notch. Campbell told Kwiatkowski about a night when the family found one of Ammons's children unconscious and levitating. Overwhelmed by the events unfolding in the home, the family sought the help of clairvoyants and local churches. They purportedly burned sage, drew crosses on the hands and feet of the children using olive oil, and attempted various acts recommended to them in an effort to rid the home of the supernatural forces they believed were infesting it.” (pg. 12)
This family, who claim to be Christian, not only sought the help of local churches, but also clairvoyants (physics/mediums). This is EXPRESSLY forbidden in the Bible AND could be what opened them up to demonic activity in the first place.
And while Mr. Hallowell clearly understands that seeking the counsel of mediums is unbiblical (because he addresses the topic of psychics later in the book), he never stops to directly address this incident, and just lets it skate by.
“Another area from which she has seen patients suffer? The occult. ‘We also uncovered sources of abuse suffered from those involved in occult practices ranging from seemingly innocent white witchcraft (Wicca, Paganism, New Age) that includes such activities as astral projection and remote viewing to the darkest possible black witchcraft (perpetrating evil, incanting evil spirits, casting spells and hexes, creating dissociative identities) such as occurs in ritual abuse and satanic rites,’ she wrote.” (pg. 192)
Again, Mr. Hallowell does not address the comment from this person about the “seemingly innocent white magic”. There is no such thing as “innocent” magic, and there is no such thing as “white” magic.
(Talking about treating mental illness) “A denial of the existence of these issues can, at times, harm recovery, she added. ‘Once I witnessed the level of healing that occurs with carefully administered spiritual interventions that are related to specific spiritual experiences that are based on the patient's belief system, there was no going back to using only allopathic medication and non-spiritual psychosocial interventions, even in spite of the criticisms from others,’ Moller wrote.” (pg. 195-196)
What exactly does it mean that this doctor (a professed Christian) treats her patients based on their specific “belief systems”? Is she treating them for spiritual issues based on the teachings of Islam if that is their belief system? How would that help them, when we as Christians know that healing is only found in the truth of Jesus?
I found things like this very frustrating about this book.
In addition to the above quotes, I also took issue with the way the author didn’t firmly deal with the topic of ghosts (ghosts are not the spirits of departed loved ones, they are demons. Human beings either go to heaven or hell when they die. This should not even be open to debate in Christian circles).
And lastly I am in strong disagreement with the way the Catholic church handles exorcisms (among other things). No where in the Bible does it teach that exorcisms can only be done by trained professionals, or that they must take days/weeks/months to do, or that they should be violent in nature, etc.
All examples in the Bible of demons being cast out of people are done in seconds, with the mere command for them to depart because of the authority of Jesus’ name, and the person is not harmed (or usually even physically touched) in the process.
For these reasons and others I am giving this book 3 stars.
There were a lot of areas where the author and I are in agreement on things, but the fact that he didn’t firmly address unbiblical things that the people he interviewed said and just let the quotes slide was very aggravating to me.
August 25, 2024
Solid book. If you are rooted in scripture and have thought much about the demonic realm, you probably won’t find anything very new or groundbreaking here. The author does a good job presenting a fact/issue and accurately explaining the different stances that are held by various groups or individuals on the given subject.
October 15, 2020
Book was OK - just know what you are getting, and what you are getting is journalism. The author has no particular expertise on this topic, except that he read a bunch of stuff online (and some of the citations did make me cringe a bit), and interviewed a bunch of people, and reported what they said. And that's valuable as much as it is, but it's a pretty surface-level coverage of the topic. The book is a reminder that spiritual forces are real and powerful, and also that the power of Christ over them is real, and that's not a bad thing. For more serious coverage of this topic (albeit one particularly focused on the activities of Christians in Madagascar), I would recommend "I Am Not Afraid" by Robert H. Bennett.
September 16, 2020
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book covers the topics of demons, ghosts and religion in an investigative way. I enjoyed the book to some extent but don't think I would pick it up again to read. I enjoyed the perspective of the book as I already have a personal interest in this area and to see it through the eyes of the church was interesting, however when starting the book I didn't realise how heavily focused this book would be on faith and Christianity. For me personally this put me off a bit and didn't get as absorbed in the book as I would have liked as I am not religious and just wanted to read about demons and not feel like I was in Sunday school.
I think that if someone had a strong faith and curious around the topics of demons then this would be the ideal book for them and would recommend to that audience but can see how this book wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.
This book covers the topics of demons, ghosts and religion in an investigative way. I enjoyed the book to some extent but don't think I would pick it up again to read. I enjoyed the perspective of the book as I already have a personal interest in this area and to see it through the eyes of the church was interesting, however when starting the book I didn't realise how heavily focused this book would be on faith and Christianity. For me personally this put me off a bit and didn't get as absorbed in the book as I would have liked as I am not religious and just wanted to read about demons and not feel like I was in Sunday school.
I think that if someone had a strong faith and curious around the topics of demons then this would be the ideal book for them and would recommend to that audience but can see how this book wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.
September 5, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of GoodReads' First Reads program.
This book begins with the alleged case that inspired the book and movie "The Exorcist" and a few others, takes a hard right turn into the bible and discusses old and new testament demonology, and then discusses a couple of more modern incidents with a heavy dose of conservative Christianity thrown in. If you like this kind of thing, I guess you may enjoy the book. As a non-believer, it did nothing to change my mind and made wish I could have the few hours spent reading it returned.
This book begins with the alleged case that inspired the book and movie "The Exorcist" and a few others, takes a hard right turn into the bible and discusses old and new testament demonology, and then discusses a couple of more modern incidents with a heavy dose of conservative Christianity thrown in. If you like this kind of thing, I guess you may enjoy the book. As a non-believer, it did nothing to change my mind and made wish I could have the few hours spent reading it returned.
October 22, 2021
Overtly biased religious examination of the topic
The book is extremely preachy and spends way too much time exploring exorcism through a biblical lens. Authors dated conservative views also shine through. Pass on this one.
The book is extremely preachy and spends way too much time exploring exorcism through a biblical lens. Authors dated conservative views also shine through. Pass on this one.
November 30, 2021
This is a fascinating book on multiple Christian approaches to demonic activity, exorcisms, and ghosts. My biggest complaint is how repetitive it is--not with the content, but with how things were phrased. At more than one time, Hallowell started two sentences in a row with the same phrasing.
The introduction provides details on what demographics believe in what, and highlights the fact that only about 4% of Christians believe demons are active today, despite the stories in the Scriptures. The Bible as a whole even talks about ghosts, possession, and other activities that are steeped in demonic activity. Hallowell interviewed multiple experts from different denominations to provide a comprehensive book.
The first talks about real-life stories: the 1949 case in Saint Louis, Missouri, which prompted the story of The Exorcist; a 2014 case in Gary, Indiana, around Latoya Ammons and her family; and Cranmer’s case from Pennsylvania, which prompted the movie The Conjuring. The latter is a good (yet awful) example as to the evil nature of abortion, pagan worship, and drug deals.
Part 2 discusses what the Bible says about Satan, demons, and demonic possession. While Satan is presented more in the New Testament, the Old Testament certainly has its share of stories, including with Job. Hallowell talks about key stories in both--especially given that one-third of Jesus’ healings are delivered from demons. However, this type of activity doesn’t negate human free will, which always needs to be taken into consideration. We can be led to sin and the occult, but don’t have to give in to that temptation. I like that there is no set opinion on what demons are, since the Bible doesn’t detail them and since people’s experiences are different. Demons are either fallen angels or the Nephilim, and I also like that Hallowell presents both opinions.
Part 3 is about ways in which demons can be welcomed in, from magic-based fantasy systems (D&D, for example)--not that these are inherently evil, but they can tempt some to work on legitimately practicing that magic. Chapter 7 highlights one such story, and McKeown’s story is not unique to those I’ve heard from others. The Ouija board, on the other hand, welcomes the spirits even more and explicitly invites them in. I have personally felt evil around an object that had the board printed on it, and that was before I knew the object was by me. And then there are ghosts, which some believe to have Biblical confirmation and others don’t.
Part 4 takes the biblical information and see how exorcisms and healings are translated to our modern life. Some have dealt with violent behavior as seen in the movies; others feel as if you stay calm and are firm there is no need for that craziness. Hallowell also addresses the fact that sometimes a person does have mental illness, and something that is done well these days is the sensitive approach to differentiate between the two. The Catholic Church recognizes minor (baptism, confession, etc.) and major (possession) exorcisms. It’s strict about who can perform exorcisms and how those priests are trained. I didn’t know that in 2014 the USCCB allowed for the Latin to be translated to English during exorcisms. Other denominations think that anyone can do an exorcism, and often don’t require training. Some Catholics believe Christians can be possessed because possession is control over the whole body of a person; most other Christians think that being a baptized Christian means you have the Holy Spirit, which can’t reside with a demonic presence. Again, I like that Hallowell presents both sides. Everyone agrees though that anyone can be demonized and come under demonic power, be influenced by Satan. After all, anyone can invite in evil.
Part 5 further delves into the differentiation between demonic activity and mental illness, and how teams of people involve psychiatrists in order to better understand the overall health of a person in distress. Everyone wants the most evidence-based explanation to both the mental and spiritual aspects of people.
The introduction provides details on what demographics believe in what, and highlights the fact that only about 4% of Christians believe demons are active today, despite the stories in the Scriptures. The Bible as a whole even talks about ghosts, possession, and other activities that are steeped in demonic activity. Hallowell interviewed multiple experts from different denominations to provide a comprehensive book.
The first talks about real-life stories: the 1949 case in Saint Louis, Missouri, which prompted the story of The Exorcist; a 2014 case in Gary, Indiana, around Latoya Ammons and her family; and Cranmer’s case from Pennsylvania, which prompted the movie The Conjuring. The latter is a good (yet awful) example as to the evil nature of abortion, pagan worship, and drug deals.
Part 2 discusses what the Bible says about Satan, demons, and demonic possession. While Satan is presented more in the New Testament, the Old Testament certainly has its share of stories, including with Job. Hallowell talks about key stories in both--especially given that one-third of Jesus’ healings are delivered from demons. However, this type of activity doesn’t negate human free will, which always needs to be taken into consideration. We can be led to sin and the occult, but don’t have to give in to that temptation. I like that there is no set opinion on what demons are, since the Bible doesn’t detail them and since people’s experiences are different. Demons are either fallen angels or the Nephilim, and I also like that Hallowell presents both opinions.
Part 3 is about ways in which demons can be welcomed in, from magic-based fantasy systems (D&D, for example)--not that these are inherently evil, but they can tempt some to work on legitimately practicing that magic. Chapter 7 highlights one such story, and McKeown’s story is not unique to those I’ve heard from others. The Ouija board, on the other hand, welcomes the spirits even more and explicitly invites them in. I have personally felt evil around an object that had the board printed on it, and that was before I knew the object was by me. And then there are ghosts, which some believe to have Biblical confirmation and others don’t.
Part 4 takes the biblical information and see how exorcisms and healings are translated to our modern life. Some have dealt with violent behavior as seen in the movies; others feel as if you stay calm and are firm there is no need for that craziness. Hallowell also addresses the fact that sometimes a person does have mental illness, and something that is done well these days is the sensitive approach to differentiate between the two. The Catholic Church recognizes minor (baptism, confession, etc.) and major (possession) exorcisms. It’s strict about who can perform exorcisms and how those priests are trained. I didn’t know that in 2014 the USCCB allowed for the Latin to be translated to English during exorcisms. Other denominations think that anyone can do an exorcism, and often don’t require training. Some Catholics believe Christians can be possessed because possession is control over the whole body of a person; most other Christians think that being a baptized Christian means you have the Holy Spirit, which can’t reside with a demonic presence. Again, I like that Hallowell presents both sides. Everyone agrees though that anyone can be demonized and come under demonic power, be influenced by Satan. After all, anyone can invite in evil.
Part 5 further delves into the differentiation between demonic activity and mental illness, and how teams of people involve psychiatrists in order to better understand the overall health of a person in distress. Everyone wants the most evidence-based explanation to both the mental and spiritual aspects of people.
January 5, 2026
Some extracts from the book:
‘Richard Gallagher, a well respected psychiatrist who works with the Catholic Church to help spot cases of demonic possession, reported that different cultures have had ‘varying interpretations’ but that ‘multiple depictions of the same phenomena in astonishingly consistent ways offer cumulative evidence of their credibility.’ This is a stunning claim from a respected medical professional. And Gallagher’s observations aren't exclusive to him, as there are others in the realm of science and medicine who see an undeniable intersection between faith and spirituality.’
‘Like Gallagher, Dr Craig S. Keener a professor of biblical studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, believes those experiences are quite common. He wrote in 2010 that ‘anthropologists have documented spirit possession or analogous experiences in a majority of cultures, although interpretations of the experiences vary.’ One such example is ‘The Catulpa Bow’ by Carmen Blacker.
‘cross cultural phenomena in these spiritual encounters’ include ‘the prevalence of changes in voice and behaviour and as Keener noted it was also common to observe an afflicted person’s failure to remember what unfolded once he or she left the purported state of possession’.
With one example of a possessed person who underwent an exorcism, the afflicted person ‘revealed physical strength beyond natural power... spit in the faces of those who held him and those who prayed over him. He spit at the relics and the priests hands. He writhed under the sprinkling of Holy Water. He fought and screamed in a diabolical, high pitched voice’. In another case ’the boy broke into a violent tantrum of screaming, cursing and voicing of Latin phrases’, this was not a language the boy had learned.
Another example was when a man ‘found himself knowing things he couldn't have possibly known’ aswell as ‘bouts of lost consciousness, finding himself dazed, confused... in random places he didn't recall going...experiencing torment and voices’, the victim was ‘struggling for control of [himself]’.
According to Jewish texts in between the Old and New Testament ‘demons are the disembodied spirits of the dead Nephilm from Genesis 6:1-4' 'who ‘have been searching for new hosts since [their physical bodily destruction in] the great flood’. The Nephilm are referred to in the Book of Enoch as being the giant offspring of ‘the Watchers, fallen angels’ or ‘children of heaven’ who saw and lusted after the ‘beautiful and comely daughters of man’ and wanted them as wives to give them children, and so they ‘mated with human women’ and the Nephilm were born. ‘The Watchers shared certain pieces of knowledge with their children and harmed the world, inserting intense evil throughout human existence’, devouring mankind, sinning against birds, beasts, reptiles and fish and even devouring one another’s flesh and drinking the blood, thus the flood was sparked by their wicked ways.
‘Catholics ...might argue that a Christian could be possessed since possession is seen as control over the body of a person –something that can happen independent of the will of the person’ whereas Protestants believe ‘Christians cant be possessed’ by a ‘demon because the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person keeps that from happening’.
‘one of the common threads...is...the power of Jesus name is what yields true liberty’.
This Al Jazeera documentary Inside the world of Catholic exorcisms in the Philippines | 101 East Documentary documents the possession of Christians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOJn8...
‘Richard Gallagher, a well respected psychiatrist who works with the Catholic Church to help spot cases of demonic possession, reported that different cultures have had ‘varying interpretations’ but that ‘multiple depictions of the same phenomena in astonishingly consistent ways offer cumulative evidence of their credibility.’ This is a stunning claim from a respected medical professional. And Gallagher’s observations aren't exclusive to him, as there are others in the realm of science and medicine who see an undeniable intersection between faith and spirituality.’
‘Like Gallagher, Dr Craig S. Keener a professor of biblical studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, believes those experiences are quite common. He wrote in 2010 that ‘anthropologists have documented spirit possession or analogous experiences in a majority of cultures, although interpretations of the experiences vary.’ One such example is ‘The Catulpa Bow’ by Carmen Blacker.
‘cross cultural phenomena in these spiritual encounters’ include ‘the prevalence of changes in voice and behaviour and as Keener noted it was also common to observe an afflicted person’s failure to remember what unfolded once he or she left the purported state of possession’.
With one example of a possessed person who underwent an exorcism, the afflicted person ‘revealed physical strength beyond natural power... spit in the faces of those who held him and those who prayed over him. He spit at the relics and the priests hands. He writhed under the sprinkling of Holy Water. He fought and screamed in a diabolical, high pitched voice’. In another case ’the boy broke into a violent tantrum of screaming, cursing and voicing of Latin phrases’, this was not a language the boy had learned.
Another example was when a man ‘found himself knowing things he couldn't have possibly known’ aswell as ‘bouts of lost consciousness, finding himself dazed, confused... in random places he didn't recall going...experiencing torment and voices’, the victim was ‘struggling for control of [himself]’.
According to Jewish texts in between the Old and New Testament ‘demons are the disembodied spirits of the dead Nephilm from Genesis 6:1-4' 'who ‘have been searching for new hosts since [their physical bodily destruction in] the great flood’. The Nephilm are referred to in the Book of Enoch as being the giant offspring of ‘the Watchers, fallen angels’ or ‘children of heaven’ who saw and lusted after the ‘beautiful and comely daughters of man’ and wanted them as wives to give them children, and so they ‘mated with human women’ and the Nephilm were born. ‘The Watchers shared certain pieces of knowledge with their children and harmed the world, inserting intense evil throughout human existence’, devouring mankind, sinning against birds, beasts, reptiles and fish and even devouring one another’s flesh and drinking the blood, thus the flood was sparked by their wicked ways.
‘Catholics ...might argue that a Christian could be possessed since possession is seen as control over the body of a person –something that can happen independent of the will of the person’ whereas Protestants believe ‘Christians cant be possessed’ by a ‘demon because the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person keeps that from happening’.
‘one of the common threads...is...the power of Jesus name is what yields true liberty’.
This Al Jazeera documentary Inside the world of Catholic exorcisms in the Philippines | 101 East Documentary documents the possession of Christians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOJn8...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2020
This book tackles an age-old question, "do you believe," and, "what do you believe?"
These questions has been asked of humanity for centuries. The base question is a simple yes or no, but the context lends nothing to the true complexity. Belief is a strong thing - it is emotional, mental, and (in some circumstances) tied to the physical. Playing with fire is written by an award winning and widely published journalist, Billy Hallowell. Hallowell approaches this topic, its questions and its more inauspicious answers.
The primary topic approached is that of ghosts, demons and exorcisms. It references theologians, religious experts, scientists and first hand accounts of various entities. These entities can be ghosts, or the spirits of once living humans; or demons, which, on the other hand have no history of a corporeal body and can present in the same manner as ghosts or even possess a living human.
The same question is again posed to determine if we believe in ghosts, demons, both or neither. Do demons exist? Can they establish dominance over a living person and even occupy their body? How does one become possessed and how can it be handled? Are exorcisms real and do they work? How do ghosts happen and what makes them stay? Are ghosts good or bad? I guarantee you that nearly all of these questions crossed your mind when you read the title of this book. And they will not go unanswered.
What is so extraordinary about Hallowell's book and his approach to the topic is the candid, conversational tone he takes with his readers. Hallowell writes this book without bias, in a flat almost monotone manner. Which, for some this may present a problem and be reiterations of facts and figures that will bore the reader to sleep. For me though, I appreciated this approach since it heavily involves religion and religious beliefs. Which is a controversial topic on its own. Hallowell delivers his facts, states his figures and supporting evidence, and also recalls quotes from those who experienced events firsthand.
I also very much enjoy the almost skeptical approach Hallowell takes to the subject matter by ensuring his readers are appraised of the definitive truths, the questionable truths, and the truths based on belief or assumption. Playing with Fire made me a bit of a researcher myself by looking into some of the information Hallowell presents on certain cases to see for myself or learn more for myself. I feel that was the intention of the book: to supply information and inferences while encouraging the reader to draw their own conclusions and seek out more information.
My only complaint is that the very beginning pages are dense and riddled with statistics. As someone who loves research I completely understand the need for them and appreciate them but think they need presented in a different manner. I think a better way to encourage the readers to continue reading would be to create some visual aids like pie charts or bar graphs and use them to connect some intersecting data. For example, 51% of a group believes in Belief A, 45% of them (that 51%) said it happens "rarely," while 15 said it happens "frequently" or "very frequently." This would be easier to digest if it had a visual aid.
These questions has been asked of humanity for centuries. The base question is a simple yes or no, but the context lends nothing to the true complexity. Belief is a strong thing - it is emotional, mental, and (in some circumstances) tied to the physical. Playing with fire is written by an award winning and widely published journalist, Billy Hallowell. Hallowell approaches this topic, its questions and its more inauspicious answers.
The primary topic approached is that of ghosts, demons and exorcisms. It references theologians, religious experts, scientists and first hand accounts of various entities. These entities can be ghosts, or the spirits of once living humans; or demons, which, on the other hand have no history of a corporeal body and can present in the same manner as ghosts or even possess a living human.
The same question is again posed to determine if we believe in ghosts, demons, both or neither. Do demons exist? Can they establish dominance over a living person and even occupy their body? How does one become possessed and how can it be handled? Are exorcisms real and do they work? How do ghosts happen and what makes them stay? Are ghosts good or bad? I guarantee you that nearly all of these questions crossed your mind when you read the title of this book. And they will not go unanswered.
What is so extraordinary about Hallowell's book and his approach to the topic is the candid, conversational tone he takes with his readers. Hallowell writes this book without bias, in a flat almost monotone manner. Which, for some this may present a problem and be reiterations of facts and figures that will bore the reader to sleep. For me though, I appreciated this approach since it heavily involves religion and religious beliefs. Which is a controversial topic on its own. Hallowell delivers his facts, states his figures and supporting evidence, and also recalls quotes from those who experienced events firsthand.
I also very much enjoy the almost skeptical approach Hallowell takes to the subject matter by ensuring his readers are appraised of the definitive truths, the questionable truths, and the truths based on belief or assumption. Playing with Fire made me a bit of a researcher myself by looking into some of the information Hallowell presents on certain cases to see for myself or learn more for myself. I feel that was the intention of the book: to supply information and inferences while encouraging the reader to draw their own conclusions and seek out more information.
My only complaint is that the very beginning pages are dense and riddled with statistics. As someone who loves research I completely understand the need for them and appreciate them but think they need presented in a different manner. I think a better way to encourage the readers to continue reading would be to create some visual aids like pie charts or bar graphs and use them to connect some intersecting data. For example, 51% of a group believes in Belief A, 45% of them (that 51%) said it happens "rarely," while 15 said it happens "frequently" or "very frequently." This would be easier to digest if it had a visual aid.
October 8, 2020
Do you believe in ghosts? Angels? Demons?
We often think of those beings in terms of holidays like Halloween or in our movies and books. But Playing With Fire dives deeper. This book looks at some super crazy real life situations (like exorcisms!) and compares them to biblical scriptures (like when Jesus casts out demons). It compiles a diverse perspective of Christian experts who aren’t afraid to really talk about what this looks like in real life today.
Billy Hallowell divides the book into sections - real life stories, what happend in the bible with demons, pathways to demonic activity, exorcisms, and the spiritual impact this has on our culture.
He asks:
- are demons active today?
- If they do exist, are they fallen angels? Nephilim?
- Can people really become ghosts?
- what can we do about any of it?
“Ignorance is bliss. Most Christians just want to go to heaven when they die and not have to deal with this stuff. But when you read the Gospels, one third of the Lord’s stories were healings delivering people from demons!”
It’s a wild thought when you really look at it! It’s an interesting take on the subject, especially this time of year when we all are reading thrillers, watching horror movies, and putting cut out ghosts in our windows. Those all seem cute until they’re REAL. What if they ARE real? He asks you to think about what you consume and why from TV shows and movies to Ouija boards and tarot cards.
“There’s a seduction through pop culture where people are led to believe they can control the circumstances, but how could we possibly expect to be able to understand and control it?”
This is the perfect real life spooky season read to offset all the fiction. I don't agree with all of it, but it did make me think about a lot of things and the lens I perceive cultural norms through. I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters. He calls for believers to "turn on the light and shine brighter" even amid these challenging spiritual times.
Thank you TLC Book Tours for including me in this launch! To see more books suggestions and reviews, follow along on Instagram
We often think of those beings in terms of holidays like Halloween or in our movies and books. But Playing With Fire dives deeper. This book looks at some super crazy real life situations (like exorcisms!) and compares them to biblical scriptures (like when Jesus casts out demons). It compiles a diverse perspective of Christian experts who aren’t afraid to really talk about what this looks like in real life today.
Billy Hallowell divides the book into sections - real life stories, what happend in the bible with demons, pathways to demonic activity, exorcisms, and the spiritual impact this has on our culture.
He asks:
- are demons active today?
- If they do exist, are they fallen angels? Nephilim?
- Can people really become ghosts?
- what can we do about any of it?
“Ignorance is bliss. Most Christians just want to go to heaven when they die and not have to deal with this stuff. But when you read the Gospels, one third of the Lord’s stories were healings delivering people from demons!”
It’s a wild thought when you really look at it! It’s an interesting take on the subject, especially this time of year when we all are reading thrillers, watching horror movies, and putting cut out ghosts in our windows. Those all seem cute until they’re REAL. What if they ARE real? He asks you to think about what you consume and why from TV shows and movies to Ouija boards and tarot cards.
“There’s a seduction through pop culture where people are led to believe they can control the circumstances, but how could we possibly expect to be able to understand and control it?”
This is the perfect real life spooky season read to offset all the fiction. I don't agree with all of it, but it did make me think about a lot of things and the lens I perceive cultural norms through. I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters. He calls for believers to "turn on the light and shine brighter" even amid these challenging spiritual times.
Thank you TLC Book Tours for including me in this launch! To see more books suggestions and reviews, follow along on Instagram
October 9, 2020
I gotta tell you guys; this was a perfect read for October! Demons, Ghosts and Exorcism has spooky written all over it! Playing with Fire was the perfect mix of people’s real life experiences combined with facts about how ghosts may actually be real, or are they? Author and investigative reporter Billy Hallowell does a great job of laying out the facts vs. fiction. I’ve always wondered if people who don’t believe in ghosts are because they haven’t witnessed one themselves or choice not to believe out of fear. At book club I asked the question to the group and I’d say about half said they believed and a few shared their encounters with us. Horror films and novels defiantly help us form opinions as to what ghosts do, or what an exorcism looks like, but most experiences aren’t that dramatic. The book even talks about how priests have had first hand experiences dealing with bad spirits. Would you live in a house that a murder was committed? For me heck no! Would you want to stay at a hotel or visit an abandoned building that is known to be haunted? Again, nope. I recently visited the Queen Mary with a group of friends and they wanted to do the ghost tour. I was the only one terrified to sleep on the ship and I defiantly dug my heels when it came to the ghost tour. I’ve never experienced a sighting and I don’t ever want to! I really enjoyed this book and I feel like I learned a lot.
May 2, 2022
I just checked off a book from my 2022 Gospel eBooks reading challenge. It was a format challenge where I read "a book from the library."
Playing with Fire is a journalistic investigation into the demonic realm. The author does historical research and expert interviews to uncover both what the Bible teaches on the topic as well as what has transpired in modern history.
The first three chapters deal with real-life cases such as the real story behind the movie "The Exorcist". He does good sourcing from police and medical reports and documents eyewitness testimony. Everything is highly corroborated which makes it highly compelling read.
The next three chapters deal with what the Bible says on the topic of Satan, demons, and possession. While the author does a good job laying out what the Bible says on the topic, he often quotes from layman sources. He frequently quotes GotQuestions.org along with other blogs and websites. Sometimes he also makes odd choices for which experts to use, such as bringing up what Pat Robertson has to say about exorcism. The author did his research but often on biblical topics he uses less than ideal sources.
There are additional chapters on topics such as the Ouija board, ghosts, pathways to the demonic, and exorcisms. It was an fairly enjoyable read and I especially loved the real-life investigations, but the layman sources were distracting and took away some of the credibility of the author in my mind.
Playing with Fire is a journalistic investigation into the demonic realm. The author does historical research and expert interviews to uncover both what the Bible teaches on the topic as well as what has transpired in modern history.
The first three chapters deal with real-life cases such as the real story behind the movie "The Exorcist". He does good sourcing from police and medical reports and documents eyewitness testimony. Everything is highly corroborated which makes it highly compelling read.
The next three chapters deal with what the Bible says on the topic of Satan, demons, and possession. While the author does a good job laying out what the Bible says on the topic, he often quotes from layman sources. He frequently quotes GotQuestions.org along with other blogs and websites. Sometimes he also makes odd choices for which experts to use, such as bringing up what Pat Robertson has to say about exorcism. The author did his research but often on biblical topics he uses less than ideal sources.
There are additional chapters on topics such as the Ouija board, ghosts, pathways to the demonic, and exorcisms. It was an fairly enjoyable read and I especially loved the real-life investigations, but the layman sources were distracting and took away some of the credibility of the author in my mind.
June 21, 2022
Playing with Fire certainly had the potential to be something groundbreaking, but the actual execution in writing left much to be desired.
Here’s the good:
These stories need to be told and heard. Christians often conveniently overlook the spiritual realm, especially when that deals with messier side of spiritual warfare. Hallowell does a good job of provoking thought and consideration around not only the Bible’s accounts of demon possession and the occult but in mirroring that presence today in the modern world.
Here’s the not so good:
The writing and research is fairly weak and lacks scholarship. Many sources are senior pastors of churches who appear to not have any unique credentials on the subject matter and seem to have been interviewed by email. (“Hey pastor friend! I’m writing a book! Help me do my class project?”) Other sources feel like they were simply Googled. Some sources like Michael Heiser are solid, but then it might make more sense to directly read what Heiser, a scholar, has written on this subject.
As Hallowell is a journalist, I think it’s fair to say that this book feels like long form copy writing for a magazine series instead of a fully formed, thoughtful and deeply researched book.
Rather than committing the time to this one, I feel like watching Sean McDowel’s interview with Hallowell on YouTube provides essentially the same content (in just over an hour…).
Here’s the good:
These stories need to be told and heard. Christians often conveniently overlook the spiritual realm, especially when that deals with messier side of spiritual warfare. Hallowell does a good job of provoking thought and consideration around not only the Bible’s accounts of demon possession and the occult but in mirroring that presence today in the modern world.
Here’s the not so good:
The writing and research is fairly weak and lacks scholarship. Many sources are senior pastors of churches who appear to not have any unique credentials on the subject matter and seem to have been interviewed by email. (“Hey pastor friend! I’m writing a book! Help me do my class project?”) Other sources feel like they were simply Googled. Some sources like Michael Heiser are solid, but then it might make more sense to directly read what Heiser, a scholar, has written on this subject.
As Hallowell is a journalist, I think it’s fair to say that this book feels like long form copy writing for a magazine series instead of a fully formed, thoughtful and deeply researched book.
Rather than committing the time to this one, I feel like watching Sean McDowel’s interview with Hallowell on YouTube provides essentially the same content (in just over an hour…).
August 9, 2022
I actually enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting because it was neither bent on denying the spiritual nor on sensationalizing it. Hallowell really travelled the middle road while writing this book and I think that is it’s greatest strength.
You can tell that Hallowell is a journalist and researcher because the books contains quotes, stories, and opinions from a wide range of people with varying opinions. Rather than just sharing one side, or his side, he shares numerous different perspectives to the questions posed throughout the book. Furthermore, while he gives some answers to those questions (with some topics appearing to lean more to one side than another), in many cases he gives the readers enough information in order for them to feel that they can either come to their own conclusion or have a basis with which to explore further. Plus he does not ignore the addition of Scripture on these subjects either and does a good job of including references to that.
My favourite chapter was probably the one on whether or not Christians can be possessed as I think he dove quite deeply into the subject and shared both what the Bible and modern scholars and pastors have to say about it. While I won’t say I have come away with all the answers, I think this book was a really well written exploration of these subjects that a wide range of readers either skeptics or believers, could benefit from and enjoy.
You can tell that Hallowell is a journalist and researcher because the books contains quotes, stories, and opinions from a wide range of people with varying opinions. Rather than just sharing one side, or his side, he shares numerous different perspectives to the questions posed throughout the book. Furthermore, while he gives some answers to those questions (with some topics appearing to lean more to one side than another), in many cases he gives the readers enough information in order for them to feel that they can either come to their own conclusion or have a basis with which to explore further. Plus he does not ignore the addition of Scripture on these subjects either and does a good job of including references to that.
My favourite chapter was probably the one on whether or not Christians can be possessed as I think he dove quite deeply into the subject and shared both what the Bible and modern scholars and pastors have to say about it. While I won’t say I have come away with all the answers, I think this book was a really well written exploration of these subjects that a wide range of readers either skeptics or believers, could benefit from and enjoy.
March 4, 2021
I feel into a rabbit hole looking into information about demons after reading the Gospel of Mark (not for the first time) and seeing Jesus casting out demons and sending the disciples out to cast out demons and it occurred to me that I hadn’t really thought about that before. It is so prevalent in the Gospels— why am I not more educated about demons, demon possession, and exorcism? Why don’t I see this in the church? These questions led me down a path of educating myself, which led me to Hallowell’s book. I will warn you, this book doesn’t present all the answers. It presents possibilities. It presents ideas. But the bottom line is that if we hold that the Bible is true, we have to believe demonic possession is real and was a very real and very prominent part of Jesus’s earthly ministry. Hallowell helped me wrap my mind around the topic and pull some isolated ideas and experiences I’ve had together into a cohesive fashion. I still don’t know all the answers. But I’ve given it much more serious thought and have come to find some of the truth on the matter. If you find yourself asking the same questions— this book can definitely help as you get your thoughts in line with the truth— though it won’t address every issue. Also, I appreciate how thorough Hallowell researched the topic and how thoroughly he cites his sources.
August 7, 2021
In my opinion the author accomplished what he set out to do, give a journalist, investigative approach to the dark side of the spiritual world and how the church of today is dealing with these issues.
There are several cases of demonic oppression and possession given as examples. The definition and descriptions of each of those terms are given from the author's research and interviews from various sources, including interviews with multiple pastors from several denominations.
The author doesn't stick to just the spiritual but also interviews several psychiatrists, experts in the medical field and explains the connection between the physical and spiritual world and how those two connect and effect human beings.
What I liked best: The author interviewed various Pastors from multiple denominations, some well known, some lesser known. Bible verses from various chapters were also referenced in appropriate places.
I don't think this is an exhaustive study on these matters, nor do I think it was meant to be, but I think it is well written for the busy, everyday Christian to read and understand and ask important questions of him or herself.
There are several cases of demonic oppression and possession given as examples. The definition and descriptions of each of those terms are given from the author's research and interviews from various sources, including interviews with multiple pastors from several denominations.
The author doesn't stick to just the spiritual but also interviews several psychiatrists, experts in the medical field and explains the connection between the physical and spiritual world and how those two connect and effect human beings.
What I liked best: The author interviewed various Pastors from multiple denominations, some well known, some lesser known. Bible verses from various chapters were also referenced in appropriate places.
I don't think this is an exhaustive study on these matters, nor do I think it was meant to be, but I think it is well written for the busy, everyday Christian to read and understand and ask important questions of him or herself.
July 27, 2024
This book seemed to start out with the expectation that the reader would believe that demons were real. There is no neutral analysis or examination of the demonic and its ties to religiousness, nor is there a nuanced examination of how the term "real" is subject to perspective. This is not a work designed to educate - it's designed to convince people that the only way to find salvation and safety is through Christ, and that's really frustrating for me. I was willing to give this work a shot despite the overtly religious nature of it, but there's not an ounce of neutrality or utilization of scholarly or academic works. It's entirely founded in "news" stories and bible verses.
I don't like DNF-ing books, but this was one I just couldn't finish. Especially since, not even halfway through, it was heavily implied that popular media things, like Dungeons & Dragons, were gateways to lead people to the occult and the demonic.
This is not an investigation into demons, exorcisms, and ghosts. This is a book designed to fearmonger and convert with a thin veil of "professionalism."
I don't like DNF-ing books, but this was one I just couldn't finish. Especially since, not even halfway through, it was heavily implied that popular media things, like Dungeons & Dragons, were gateways to lead people to the occult and the demonic.
This is not an investigation into demons, exorcisms, and ghosts. This is a book designed to fearmonger and convert with a thin veil of "professionalism."
February 24, 2022
I can't with this book. I enjoyed the in-depth look at the cases at the beginning of the book, but the last half really, I can't. He gave a theology discourse (which anyone who has gone to any form of Christian school or Sunday school knows) which frankly was just pulling out quote and being like "this is what it says" aka rephrasing. I got more from reading the Bible myself as a teenager and more from my Sunday school teachers, high school teachers and family priests. Base level theological discussion, that I think you shouldn't have someone explain it to you under the guise of being an investigative reporter. However, the annoying part was that he called Dungeons and Dragons occultic. It's not. And when I read that I had to stop reading because it showed his bias (as in only seriously fundamentalist Christians believe that DnD is evil and occultic and going to cause you to be taken over by Satan).
October 30, 2022
Whether your a Christian or not, this book suffers from some major problems: sources. There’s hardly any scholarly sources cited. He relies on Got Questions, Merriam Webster, Amazon reviews, and an unnamed “expert” at one point. It seems that throughout the book he really relying on his interview with Michael Brown. I would not recommend this book as a good Christian perspective on these issues. While he does reference Michael Heiser, I would just say to read his book, the Unseen Realm. Or read John Walton’s book on the subject. To be fair, Hallowell’s writing is great and his journalistic stories are some of the best parts of the book. The cover is fantastic! It was a great effort by someone who is not a part of the Christian scholarly circle but it unfortunately shows. With that being said, I’m glad I got to listen to it on audio as it has been a fun Halloween read over all for what it’s worth.
September 3, 2024
Raised as a Southern Baptist Christian, I was always taught that the work of the Spirit is for the times of Jesus and the New Testament believers. I was taught that all things pertaining to ghosts, witchcraft, and the like were off limits. We were not even to entertain the thought of approaching such topics.
Shrugging off the impulse to overlook this book for previous endotrinated ideas, I am glad that I took the time to read it.
This provides factual stories from reputatble sources. It is presented in a matter of fact way. The author uses interviews, research, and scripture to round his summary. It is a perfect book to start up a conversation.
A striking overview of spiritual warfare and brings to front the need for Christian relationship with Jesus. We should be equipped with Scripture and in constant communion with God through the power of the Holy Spirit to discern evil and combat it for the well being of ourselves, loved ones, and those who are afflicted.
Shrugging off the impulse to overlook this book for previous endotrinated ideas, I am glad that I took the time to read it.
This provides factual stories from reputatble sources. It is presented in a matter of fact way. The author uses interviews, research, and scripture to round his summary. It is a perfect book to start up a conversation.
A striking overview of spiritual warfare and brings to front the need for Christian relationship with Jesus. We should be equipped with Scripture and in constant communion with God through the power of the Holy Spirit to discern evil and combat it for the well being of ourselves, loved ones, and those who are afflicted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews