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Angels (and Demons): What Do We Really Know About Them?
In response to actual questions many people have asked him about angels and demons, well-known author and philosophy professor Peter Kreeft separates fact from fantasy and myth from reality as he answers 100 common questions about these spiritual beings. Based on a very popular college course he teaches on this subject, this book responds to the incredible amount of interest in angelic beings and attempts to clear up some of the misinformation abounding in the numerous books today on what we know about these mysterious spirits.
Drawing on the Bible, traditional Church teaching and St. Thomas Aquinas, Kreeft gives straight, clear answers to the perennial and philosophical questions asked about angels and demons throughout time. In his typical lucid, profound and sometimes humorous style, Kreeft answers such questions as ''What are angels made of'', ''How do angels communicate with God'', ''How do angels communicate with us'', ''Do demons, or devils, or evil spirits really exist?'' and many more. Includes angel art.
Drawing on the Bible, traditional Church teaching and St. Thomas Aquinas, Kreeft gives straight, clear answers to the perennial and philosophical questions asked about angels and demons throughout time. In his typical lucid, profound and sometimes humorous style, Kreeft answers such questions as ''What are angels made of'', ''How do angels communicate with God'', ''How do angels communicate with us'', ''Do demons, or devils, or evil spirits really exist?'' and many more. Includes angel art.
157 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1995
89 people are currently reading
796 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
200 books1,075 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 10, 2023
This book is a good introduction for beginners interested in the supernatural. It is written in a similar fashion as the Summa with 100 questions about angels and demons (about 3/4 angels and 1/4 demons) discussing what they are, what they do, why they are here and why we need them, and so on. It starts off a little slow if you are expect something more in depth but it is a great beginner for anyone who is not religious and wants a solid logical argument for there being angels (and fallen angels now demons). Prefer already writes in a clear and concise way often simplifying and touching on on St. Thomas Aquinas’ more in depth research and explanation of angels. I recommend this book for non religious and anyone looking for an introduction into the metaphysical world.
April 7, 2013
I'm undecided about Kreeft in general but anyone who has a guardian angel named Frodo should be cut some slack.
March 25, 2017
This helped me to understand angels and demons. It very interesting to read, easy to understand. I am very happy I bought it and read it. I knew such things I never knew. I think it changed something in my soul too.
July 24, 2025
Kreeft, Peter. Angels (and Demons). Ignatius Press.
Dr Kreeft’s work has no original thinking–and he would accept that as a compliment. This book is a series of questions and answers from his years of teaching. To the degree the book has a structure in its questions, it moves from “Our Fascination with Angels” to “How we know anything about them” to “the nature of angels” and finally to demons. Around 90% of this book is acceptable for Protestants, as Kreeft “nods” to Mary at times.
As with Mortimer Adler’s work on angels, we see with Kreeft that the answers we give to angels align with the answers we give to questions about reality. In other words, naturalism vs. supernatural theism. Somewhat surprisingly, Kreeft spends only minimal space dealing with Ps. Dionysius’s “Nine Choirs” of angels. He affirms it, of course, but it does not carry the most weight with his argument.
One could do an analytical review of this work, but it is sometimes best with Kreeft just to quote him, as many of his sentences are near-perfect:
“Angels are sentinels standing at the crossroads where life meets death” (Kreeft 17). In other words, not only are angels active at the life-death moment, but they are also active in redemptive history.
Does the supernatural exist, or are we just atoms in motion? Peter Kreeft gives a good answer: "Would you pay attention to your own thinking if you believed it was nothing but the inevitable echo of the evolutionary belch of the primordial slime?" Kreeft got this from CS Lewis’s Miracles, and the same answer can be found in Plantinga.
If angels are invisible, how can we conceive of them? It might be easier than you think. As he notes, “We can conceive of all sorts of things we can’t imagine, such as time, relationships, and numbers” (47).
Kreeft follows Thomas on angelic knowledge, noting it is intuitive. As angels are not in time the same as we are, their knowing of a thing is different. They just know. In other words, they do not know through sensation. Rather, “Angels learn from the top down, so to speak: from abstract universal ideas to concrete specific things” (66).
He has some interesting insights on angels’ relation to space and how the body relates to the soul (i.e., the soul contains the body, not the other way around). Exploring that, unfortunately, would take us too far afield.
Conclusion
This is certainly a book for the intermediate-advanced reader. The content is not difficult. Far from it, for Kreeft could not be dull if he tried. His Roman Catholicism does come through at times (though never in a reasoned way).
Dr Kreeft’s work has no original thinking–and he would accept that as a compliment. This book is a series of questions and answers from his years of teaching. To the degree the book has a structure in its questions, it moves from “Our Fascination with Angels” to “How we know anything about them” to “the nature of angels” and finally to demons. Around 90% of this book is acceptable for Protestants, as Kreeft “nods” to Mary at times.
As with Mortimer Adler’s work on angels, we see with Kreeft that the answers we give to angels align with the answers we give to questions about reality. In other words, naturalism vs. supernatural theism. Somewhat surprisingly, Kreeft spends only minimal space dealing with Ps. Dionysius’s “Nine Choirs” of angels. He affirms it, of course, but it does not carry the most weight with his argument.
One could do an analytical review of this work, but it is sometimes best with Kreeft just to quote him, as many of his sentences are near-perfect:
“Angels are sentinels standing at the crossroads where life meets death” (Kreeft 17). In other words, not only are angels active at the life-death moment, but they are also active in redemptive history.
Does the supernatural exist, or are we just atoms in motion? Peter Kreeft gives a good answer: "Would you pay attention to your own thinking if you believed it was nothing but the inevitable echo of the evolutionary belch of the primordial slime?" Kreeft got this from CS Lewis’s Miracles, and the same answer can be found in Plantinga.
If angels are invisible, how can we conceive of them? It might be easier than you think. As he notes, “We can conceive of all sorts of things we can’t imagine, such as time, relationships, and numbers” (47).
Kreeft follows Thomas on angelic knowledge, noting it is intuitive. As angels are not in time the same as we are, their knowing of a thing is different. They just know. In other words, they do not know through sensation. Rather, “Angels learn from the top down, so to speak: from abstract universal ideas to concrete specific things” (66).
He has some interesting insights on angels’ relation to space and how the body relates to the soul (i.e., the soul contains the body, not the other way around). Exploring that, unfortunately, would take us too far afield.
Conclusion
This is certainly a book for the intermediate-advanced reader. The content is not difficult. Far from it, for Kreeft could not be dull if he tried. His Roman Catholicism does come through at times (though never in a reasoned way).
February 10, 2014
Reading Peter Kreeft is always a pleasure: his enthusiasm is contagious, his love for God, his good nature and humility in spite of being a philosopher are qualities that should be expected from any writer of books (whose purpose is to get in our minds his version of things).
His book on angels is short, pithy, fun, clever as usual, informative, scholarly but not pedantic, and very entertaining. It's one of those books you read in 3 nights (around 150 pages).
You have to keep in mind that this author is Catholic and so you are going to find the Catholic perspective on certain aspects of the Christian faith. Catholic or Protestant you should agree, as is clearly demonstrated in this book, that angels are not myths, that they exist and the exist for some reason which is not meant to be any secret.
I encourage you to know more about the army of angels that God has disposed for your protection and for communicating His purpose to you, that is: if you are willing to be one of His sons or daughters.
Because we all are his creation, but we only become His children by accepting Christ, His Son, as our Lord and Savior (Savior from sin -to those PC oriented persons).
His book on angels is short, pithy, fun, clever as usual, informative, scholarly but not pedantic, and very entertaining. It's one of those books you read in 3 nights (around 150 pages).
You have to keep in mind that this author is Catholic and so you are going to find the Catholic perspective on certain aspects of the Christian faith. Catholic or Protestant you should agree, as is clearly demonstrated in this book, that angels are not myths, that they exist and the exist for some reason which is not meant to be any secret.
I encourage you to know more about the army of angels that God has disposed for your protection and for communicating His purpose to you, that is: if you are willing to be one of His sons or daughters.
Because we all are his creation, but we only become His children by accepting Christ, His Son, as our Lord and Savior (Savior from sin -to those PC oriented persons).
August 19, 2013
First, the book is really about angels. 3/4 of the book treats of angels with only a small section at the end about demons. The audience is anyone curious about angels, either through interest or doubt. His style is rather humorous, even sappy at times, but his strength lies in the sharpness of his arguments. They are clear, compelling, and cover a wide range of Christian issues. This is not out of the ordinary since he also argues that attitudes on angels tap into a host of issues from philosophy to theology.
May 31, 2007
Not to be confused with the book of the same title by the infamous Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Peter Kreeft's "Angels and Demons" is a highly readable and theologically profound study of the Catholic view of angelic and demonic beings. Given the prevalence of New Age-type works in circulation these days that purport to "explain" the spirit world, Kreeft's book is a valuable tool in the Catholic arsenal for explaining what angels really are and how they influence us.
July 4, 2020
This is an easy read in a question answer format. Kreeft is no-nonsense and occasionally snarky as he lays out what we know about angels, good and bad. This was a quick reminder to focus on what's eternal. I particularly enjoyed one of the appendixes where he copies C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters format to deal with more current topics like the sexual revolution and the media.
July 30, 2015
This is a very enlightening and easy to read book outlining Catholic philosophical perspectives on spirits and angelistic philosophy. Kreeft takes something I didn’t think would be that interesting and makes it fascinating. Even though I grew up in a Catholic family that prays the Guardian Angel prayer every evening, I didn’t realize how many questions I had about angels: How do they fit in with saints? What is our relationship with them—and vice versa? What is the purpose of the angels in the Bible? Why are angels still so popular even among people who do not follow any religion? Can we really name our guardian angel? This book answered these and many other questions.
These are just a few of the things that this book deepened my understanding of (some of these are directly taken from the text):
- Angels aren’t cute and cuddly. They are fierce warriors.
- There are good angels and bad angels.
- Angels do often come disguised.
- Angels are spirits superior to man and inferior to God.
- Each of us does have a very real guardian angel; there are even guardian angels for cities, states, nations, and other entities.
- Angels are: (1) creatures of God, (2) bodiless spirits, (3) with intelligence, (4) and will, (5) who live in God’s presence in heaven, (6) obey his will, (7) carry his messages, (8) assume bodies as we assume costumes, (9) influence our imagination, (10), but not our free will, and (11) move material things supernaturally.
- Kreeft includes a helpful diagram that places angels in the divisions of spirit and matter. God is obviously above all. Below Him, created by Him: Angels are pure spirit. Man is spirit and matter. And animals, plants, and minerals are pure matter.
- Angels can only suggest through our emotions and imagination. They cannot know our thoughts or influence our intellect or will without our consent. Neither angels nor demons can take away our free choice.
- Angels aren’t all the same. Not only are there different types and hierarchies of angels, each angel is a unique species.
- Angels don’t have wings. They are just depicted that way to show their role as God’s messengers.
- Angels can’t make us good, but they can help—as heavenly friends.
And that’s really only the tip of the iceberg! I also learned many other things outside the topic of angels—about prayer, heaven, the nature of souls, the difference between matter and spirit, the role of the will in sanctity, intelligence, the types of love, etc.
As always, Kreeft presents his topic in a way that is straight to the point, accessible, and relevant. The question and answer format makes it easy to flip to specific parts of the book (an element I like, although some of my fellow classmates—I read this for a class—didn’t). The book also includes several appendices: A Short Course in Angelistic Philosophy, A Snakebite Letter: Sex and the Media, What the New Catechism of the Catholic Church Says about Angels, Angels and Demons in the Bible, and a Bibliography.
Highly recommended for those who wish to learn more about this commonly misunderstood or overlooked facet of the Faith.
These are just a few of the things that this book deepened my understanding of (some of these are directly taken from the text):
- Angels aren’t cute and cuddly. They are fierce warriors.
- There are good angels and bad angels.
- Angels do often come disguised.
- Angels are spirits superior to man and inferior to God.
- Each of us does have a very real guardian angel; there are even guardian angels for cities, states, nations, and other entities.
- Angels are: (1) creatures of God, (2) bodiless spirits, (3) with intelligence, (4) and will, (5) who live in God’s presence in heaven, (6) obey his will, (7) carry his messages, (8) assume bodies as we assume costumes, (9) influence our imagination, (10), but not our free will, and (11) move material things supernaturally.
- Kreeft includes a helpful diagram that places angels in the divisions of spirit and matter. God is obviously above all. Below Him, created by Him: Angels are pure spirit. Man is spirit and matter. And animals, plants, and minerals are pure matter.
- Angels can only suggest through our emotions and imagination. They cannot know our thoughts or influence our intellect or will without our consent. Neither angels nor demons can take away our free choice.
- Angels aren’t all the same. Not only are there different types and hierarchies of angels, each angel is a unique species.
- Angels don’t have wings. They are just depicted that way to show their role as God’s messengers.
- Angels can’t make us good, but they can help—as heavenly friends.
And that’s really only the tip of the iceberg! I also learned many other things outside the topic of angels—about prayer, heaven, the nature of souls, the difference between matter and spirit, the role of the will in sanctity, intelligence, the types of love, etc.
As always, Kreeft presents his topic in a way that is straight to the point, accessible, and relevant. The question and answer format makes it easy to flip to specific parts of the book (an element I like, although some of my fellow classmates—I read this for a class—didn’t). The book also includes several appendices: A Short Course in Angelistic Philosophy, A Snakebite Letter: Sex and the Media, What the New Catechism of the Catholic Church Says about Angels, Angels and Demons in the Bible, and a Bibliography.
Highly recommended for those who wish to learn more about this commonly misunderstood or overlooked facet of the Faith.
January 7, 2014
Enjoyable, but I expected more references. There were quite a few statements that sounded suspiciously like opinions, and I never saw the background or reasoning behind them. Interesting start to studying angelology.
June 21, 2017
Rekomenduoju tiems, kas ieško knygos apie angelus ir šiek tiek apie demonus. Ne bet kaip, o būtent iš katalikiškos pasaulėžiūros. Ne per daug sudėtingai, labai aiškiai. Sužinojau begalę, ko nežinojau. Tokių informacinių knygų apie angelus nelabai ir žinau.
June 2, 2007
Fun, fun read, especially for those of us who have special friendships with angels.
October 19, 2008
A very fun read! I learned a lot, but it left me wanting more.
July 10, 2009
The proof we need to believe in angels.
August 9, 2016
Great book
Well written and insightful. A lot of interesting topics covered and truly everything you could want to know about Angels.
Well written and insightful. A lot of interesting topics covered and truly everything you could want to know about Angels.
メdnf
January 29, 2025Wow... wow... I can't believe people are reviewing this unironically.
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I think this is a categorically dumb book, whether or not you believe in angels, like ABBA. But there are so many ways to enjoy books on angelology (e.g., as mythology, fantasy, literary studies) that it doesn't really matter. The least we deserve from a book posing as a reference theological work and authored by a Catholic philosophy professor is that it should cite canonical or doctrinal texts, like the Bible or Summa Theologica. It actually pretends to do so but doesn't quite manage to sound convincing. This book is written in a Q&A format, with answers that seem suspiciously made up (or even more made-up than usual, if that's what you dig):
Yeah, no, because how in the great celestial fanfiction of unverifiable facts could you possibly know that? Is there a secret angel census we don't know about? Did an angel ping you this via divine group chat, or...??? I have sooo many questions..
The funny thing is that the author mentions more than once he is disappointed with the quality of angel books currently flooding the market; welp, I'm so sorry you had to read many books to get that impression, but this book *single-handedly* managed to disappoint me congratulations
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I think this is a categorically dumb book, whether or not you believe in angels, like ABBA. But there are so many ways to enjoy books on angelology (e.g., as mythology, fantasy, literary studies) that it doesn't really matter. The least we deserve from a book posing as a reference theological work and authored by a Catholic philosophy professor is that it should cite canonical or doctrinal texts, like the Bible or Summa Theologica. It actually pretends to do so but doesn't quite manage to sound convincing. This book is written in a Q&A format, with answers that seem suspiciously made up (or even more made-up than usual, if that's what you dig):
Q: How do angels move?
A: Like electrons, in a surprising way.
Q: How many angels are there?
A: More than five billion, for everyone has a guardian angel.
Q: Can angels become cars?
A: They can assume many forms, but they prefer natural, God-designed forms (like cats) to artificial forms like cars.
Yeah, no, because how in the great celestial fanfiction of unverifiable facts could you possibly know that? Is there a secret angel census we don't know about? Did an angel ping you this via divine group chat, or...??? I have sooo many questions..
The funny thing is that the author mentions more than once he is disappointed with the quality of angel books currently flooding the market; welp, I'm so sorry you had to read many books to get that impression, but this book *single-handedly* managed to disappoint me congratulations
February 24, 2023
This book is excellent as a resource, divided into individual questions. The appendices at the end are also very helpful. It certainly answered all the angel/demon questions that I had. Now it’s going to sit on a shelf in my classroom for reference.
July 27, 2021
Good book. Question/answer format. I learned a couple new things in this one.
May 3, 2022
While Kreeft's sass is entertaining, I feel like I didn't learn a whole lot on angels in this book. It covered a wide breadth but I was expecting more depth. Great book for anyone looking for an introduction on the topic and a fun overview on the basics of angels (and demons).
October 17, 2023
I learned about what the bible and the catechesis have to say about angels. I loved the question/answer format, and Kreeft's added humor while explaining guardian angels, hierarchy, and historical perspectives on angels from different cultures. Easy read with lots of information.
April 2, 2015
Here Kreeft uses a well written populist approach to the subject of angels and demons. It is largely a response to the rising popularity of the subject, a decade or two ago, in "New-Age" circles.
Kreeft intersperses Magisterial teaching and thoughts from some of the Doctors of the Church, with his own meanderings (never less than orthodox). However, citations are few and the bibliography is limited.
The volume is short, easily readable and presents a good general understanding of angels and demons. Those looking for a scholarly or theological approach may want to look elsewhere.
Kreeft intersperses Magisterial teaching and thoughts from some of the Doctors of the Church, with his own meanderings (never less than orthodox). However, citations are few and the bibliography is limited.
The volume is short, easily readable and presents a good general understanding of angels and demons. Those looking for a scholarly or theological approach may want to look elsewhere.
September 26, 2017
Put in a Q-&-A format, written by a well-respected Catholic professor of Philosophy at Boston College. Informative without being speculative, it is based on the course he taught called, "Angels, Devils, Ghosts and Miracles." Dr. Kreeft covers such topics as angelic cognitive abilities, their sexuality (or lack thereof), and job descriptions. Written from a Catholic perspective, the book is quite readable, avoiding overly technical theological jargon.
July 24, 2018
I host a weekly theology group and this was our latest read. It was excellent! We had great discussions based off the material, and even though Kreeft doesn't claim to be an expert on the topic, he still does a thoroughly good job compiling what we know about angels from Scripture, Church teaching, and saints and mystics (he says most of what he knows about angels he learned from St. Thomas Aquinas.) As usual, Kreeft's good humor is peppered throughout his hard-hitting truths.
April 13, 2017
Dobra knjiga, donosi autorova razmišljanja o anđelima i demonima kroz 100 pitanja i odgovora (autor je profesor filozofije). Na kraju knjige je nekoliko dodataka. Među ostalima, tu je popis mjesta u Bibliji na kojima se spominju anđeli, demoni, zlodusi itd., i izvadak iz Katekizma Katoličke Crkve o anđelima. Vrijedilo je čitanja.
September 19, 2023
This is an interesting little book, written in question and answer style, that attempts to explain what angels and demons are and aren't. Peter Kreeft reviews what's said in the Catholic Bible about them (not much) and interpolates/interprets based on Church Tradition and the writings of theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas. Enjoyed it and will keep it in my collection of books on the topic.
May 7, 2011
I very much enjoyed this read. It was informative and made some complex arguments easy to understand. The Q&A format provided a good way to digest discrete topics one at a time. I did expect it to be more academic and dig a little deeper, but a good "starter" for anyone interested in the subject.
January 14, 2018
Pretty good
Very Kreeft esque
I wasn't convinced of a few things he said though, but overall it was a good introduction.
Question 99 has an answer that might appeal more however to those in high church denominations (catholics, orthodox, high anglican, high lutheran, etc)
Very Kreeft esque
I wasn't convinced of a few things he said though, but overall it was a good introduction.
Question 99 has an answer that might appeal more however to those in high church denominations (catholics, orthodox, high anglican, high lutheran, etc)
February 12, 2015
Easy to read. Mostly about Angels very little about Demons (that's ok with me) I came in wanting to learn about Angels - which I did- but discovered even more about God.
March 13, 2017
Beautiful
It answered a lot of questions and help me see and understand a lot of things I recommended this book
It answered a lot of questions and help me see and understand a lot of things I recommended this book
August 6, 2024
Angels (and Demons) is an engaging exploration of the spiritual world, a realm often overlooked or misunderstood in contemporary society. Through a question-and-answer format, Kreeft delves into the nature of angels and demons, their roles in human history, and their ongoing influence on our lives.
Kreeft's characteristically clear and engaging writing style makes complex theological concepts accessible to a wide audience. He firmly establishes the reality of both angels and demons, challenging the skepticism that often surrounds these topics. The author draws upon Scripture, Church tradition, and philosophical reasoning to build a compelling case for the existence and activity of these spiritual beings.
Central to the book is the exploration of the nature of angels. Kreeft delves into their creation, hierarchy, and roles, emphasizing their purity, intelligence, and power. He also explores the concept of guardian angels and their role in human lives. In contrast, the book examines the nature of demons, their origin, and their influence on the world. Kreeft presents a sobering picture of their malice and cunning, while also offering insights into their limitations.
A significant theme throughout the book is the concept of spiritual warfare. Kreeft emphasizes the ongoing battle between good and evil, equipping readers with a theological and practical understanding of this conflict. He stresses the importance of prayer, sacraments, and virtue as essential tools in this spiritual battle.
Angels (and Demons) offers a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimension of life. By dispelling myths and providing a solid theological foundation, Kreeft invites readers to recognize the reality of spiritual forces at work in the world and to embrace their role in this cosmic conflict.
Kreeft's characteristically clear and engaging writing style makes complex theological concepts accessible to a wide audience. He firmly establishes the reality of both angels and demons, challenging the skepticism that often surrounds these topics. The author draws upon Scripture, Church tradition, and philosophical reasoning to build a compelling case for the existence and activity of these spiritual beings.
Central to the book is the exploration of the nature of angels. Kreeft delves into their creation, hierarchy, and roles, emphasizing their purity, intelligence, and power. He also explores the concept of guardian angels and their role in human lives. In contrast, the book examines the nature of demons, their origin, and their influence on the world. Kreeft presents a sobering picture of their malice and cunning, while also offering insights into their limitations.
A significant theme throughout the book is the concept of spiritual warfare. Kreeft emphasizes the ongoing battle between good and evil, equipping readers with a theological and practical understanding of this conflict. He stresses the importance of prayer, sacraments, and virtue as essential tools in this spiritual battle.
Angels (and Demons) offers a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimension of life. By dispelling myths and providing a solid theological foundation, Kreeft invites readers to recognize the reality of spiritual forces at work in the world and to embrace their role in this cosmic conflict.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews