BLOG TOUR: Playing With Fire, A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts by Billy Hallowell @thomasnelson @tlcbooktours #playingwithfire

Next up for me in my October spooky reads is a topic that actually terrifies me… demonic possession!

About the Book

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.

Reflection

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: A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts, 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.