This Present Darkness/Piercing the Darkness (1991) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

While there are no explicit sex scenes, sexual themes are used as dark plot devices to create tension and establish the villainy of specific antagonists. Characters like Bernice and Hank Busche are falsely accused of prostitution and rape, respectively, which serves as a major narrative catalyst for their persecution. In 'Piercing the Darkness,' Sally Beth Roe's past involves implications of a loose lifestyle and unwanted advances before her conversion. Additionally, 'New Age' rituals are hinted to have sexual…

Violence is frequent and atmospheric, occurring in both the physical and spiritual realms throughout the 800-page volume. Humans suffer car accidents, falls, and physical assaults, while characters like Marshall Hogan and Sally Beth Roe are subjected to intense chases and physical intimidation. Angels and demons engage in graphic combat with swords, resulting in 'ichor' and demonic entities dissolving, being shredded, or exploding into smoke. There is a strong sense of peril and psychological terror throughout…

Very mild and infrequent, adhering strictly to the Christian thriller genre standards of the time. Most profanity is avoided due to the religious nature of the book, though characters may use terms like 'hell' or 'damn' in a non-theological context during moments of extreme stress. Some harsh descriptors are used for demonic entities, often calling them 'vile,' 'foul,' or 'slimy' to emphasize their spiritual corruption. The antagonists' language is often characterized as arrogant or mocking, but it rarely crosses…

Minimal substance use is present, primarily serving to illustrate the 'worldliness' of the antagonists or the despair of characters before their spiritual awakening. Some antagonists drink alcohol in social settings, at academic faculty parties, or at private gatherings to characterize their lack of moral grounding. There are mentions of characters needing coffee or struggling with exhaustion, and Sally Beth Roe's previous life implies a history of running with a crowd that engaged in partying. However, there are…

The omnibus heavily focuses on the 'unseen' world, demonic possession, and the mechanics of spiritual warfare. Major themes include institutional corruption within local government and academia, the objective power of prayer, and the inherent dangers of 'New Age' spirituality and secular humanism. Much of the tension is derived from the psychological weight of being falsely accused of heinous crimes like child molestation. The books portray a world in constant spiritual peril where the actions of humans directly…