Stumble It!
I accidently stumbled across this book after doing some googles:
"Angels (and demons): what do we really know about them" (by Peter Kreeft). I read a bit, for a laugh because the title caught my interest. But I had trouble understanding how some people actually believe this - and by the circular logic and ridiculous conclusions that are drawn. I've been reading alot of academic journals and research papers lately (honours research project - funtimes) and after reading parts of this book I found it laughable.
Kreeft suggests that people are more suspicious of angelology than natural sciences are because it deals with the supernatural. Um, yes. The claim is that these are beings of god (completely invisible obviously - like all imaginary friends) and that every human that is alive or has ever lived has his own angel. And here is an example of what he calls deduction [which anyone who has any knowledge of the scientific method can get a good laugh about this]:
"If any one of the points of this theory were false, the data would be different. For instance, if angels could not assume bodies, they could not eat. However in Scripture they do on occasion eat (see Gen 19:3); therefore they can assume bodies."
AHA! Genius. See how convincing his logic is. The bible said A; B requires A; and B should mean C. Therefore C is unquestionably true.
Oh and by the way, there are angels everywhere. Always - there is an angel with you right now apparently. Basically the monotheistic Stasi. Imaginary, but just as intrusive - they even get involved in politics!
The book answers all the questions you could possible have about angels - seriously one heading is, "Are angels involved in politics?" The answer is a resounding yes, by the way.
Another question/heading: "What do angels do all day? Don't they get bored?
I love the implications of this!
So far the book has established that angels are omnipresent beings, every single person gets their own, they are spiritual/extraterrestrial being that are the communicators of a/the single god who can assume bodies if they choose and are sometimes involved in politics. So, the burning question is "do they get bored!?" Well, fortunately no [luckily Kreeft has insight into the affect of transcendent beings], angels don't get bored. Well what do they do all day? (other than being divine communicators, personal protectors, donning a variety of forms, watching you read blogs, meddling in politics, AND sometimes eating). Well, they "have insights. Insights just keep popping into their minds, a neverending stream. They are like super-scientists, artists, poets, and philosophers".
Yeah. I bet.
There's also quite alot of apocalyptic nonsense in the book (Christians have been predicting the end of the world as imminent since, oh, about 2000 years ago). Apparently there have been increases angel sightings (so get your tinfoil hats and rosary beads) because the apocalypse is coming. The book is actually a good laugh.
He has two main sources of evidence.
1) The Bible (obviously - what better source of information is there?)
2) Witnesses. People who have seen angels.
But oh wait, angels are invisible - apparently angels don't reflect light! - so what is going on with these witnesses? Perhaps they need to have their medications adjusted, or just need to get out more and meet some friends that aren't invisible.
And oh wait, don't most of the angels that appear to people appear to people? Oh wait, maybe that's just them taking on bodies (and being.. not invisible anymore). Like the angel Gabriel who appeared to everyone from Mary to Zechariah to Mohammad to Mary to your loopy aunt.
Oh well, no need for consistency from the invisible friends. Or the Christians. You just have to clap your hands in believe in faeries -- I mean god
The book is actually quite funny though.
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