Dark Side of the Supernatural:
What Is of God and What Isn't
Bill Myers and Dave Wimbish
Zondervan/Youth Specialties (2008)
ISBN 9780310279242
Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for RebeccasReads (7/08)
Young people often question their lives and think there should be more answers readily available to them. That is one reason why the occult often holds a certain fascination for them. Bill Myers, a youth worker and writer/director, along with Dave Wimbish, creative supervisor for Russ Reid Company, have joined forces to teach troubled teens what is of God … and what isn’t.
The two authors delve into a variety of supernatural beliefs and compare them to what the Bible has to say. They look at both good and bad angels, demons, Satanism, UFOs, communication with the dead, ghosts, near-death experiences, reincarnation, Wicca and witchcraft, vampires and fantasy games. They also touch on such topics as channeling, astrology, astral projection, yoga, meditation, crystal power, ESP and universalism.
Myers and Wimbish never say these beliefs don’t exist. In fact, they demonstrate they are very real, yet what is the actual foundation of the beliefs?
The authors use God’s Word to answer that very question. Passages in the Bible come to life as they cite how Jesus’ followers often came face-to-face with these same beliefs and found the true path through the Savior. These beliefs are not new; they date back centuries – to the beginning of life on Earth when Satan first tempted Adam and Eve with his mystical powers. Satan, the bad angels and demons have tried to run roughshod over mankind for eons. They are, after all, enemies of man because of their hatred for good and love of evil.
“The Dark Side of the Supernatural” is written for teens, but it is a book that parents should also read in order to understand the forces that attempt to capture their children. Armed with the information provided by Myers and Wimbish, parents have a better chance of helping their children avoid the pitfalls of these beliefs and falling under their spells.
Not only do the authors give us the answers to where these beliefs stem from, they also provide the reader with an excellent education on the background and history of supernatural entrapments. Myers and Wimbish don’t leave the reader hanging, either. The final chapter offers suggestions on how to protect oneself against the supernatural forces by explaining why people are drawn to the occult and how to avoid the temptations.
The book is very informative and easy to read. I personally learned quite a bit from reading it. In some cases, the book made me want to get out my own Bible and read the chapters where the passages the authors cite are found. It’s an excellent resource and a fascinating read.
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