Sunday, October 9, 2011

Ascent From Darkness by Michael Leehan

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive when I chose this book, Ascent From Darkness, by Michael Leehan.  I have always believed in the presence of evil and also in the entity of Satan, but to read a book written by someone who used to follow the devil was a step beyond what I had ever experienced.

Here in America, I think we often discount or ignore the spiritual world around us because it doesn't follow our rational rules and it can be a bit...scary.  But it doesn't cease to exist simply because we don't acknowledge it.  Michael Leehan's life story shows how very real this world is as it chronicles the significant events in his life, his decision to become a satanist and his eventual conversion to Christianity.

I was impressed by how the author conveyed his story in an honest way without sensationalizing it or portraying it in a way that made it seem strangely attractive.  He was careful to state how very lost, alone and unhappy he was, even as he kept pursuing it for the power he felt it gained him.  At many points during the story, I was reminded of the fact that the demonic world is very much alive and that as a Christian, I have access to power and light that can quell any fear that might arise at that knowledge.  I felt strengthened by this book, not freaked out as I had feared when I contemplated reading it.

The only thing I wished had been included was a chapter or two more about his life as a Christian, what he does for his ministry, experiences he has had as he's turned away from evil and pursued the Lord.  I felt like a lot of time was given to his time as a satanist (and rightfully so as it consumed a larger time period in his life) but I would have enjoyed reading more about changes in him from his perspective and from the perspective of people who had known him before and after.  Although a section was included at the end of testimonies from people who know him , it seemed most of them were from people he has gotten to know as a Christian. 

Overall, I think this is a book American Christians should read, and anyone else for that matter!  It will open your eyes to the truth of the spiritual world, to the fact that there is light and darkness, good and evil; they are very, very real.