The Society
Reviewed date: 2010 Nov 9
160 pages
The Forbidden Doors series introduces young readers to various occultic and spiritual dangers that a Christian may encounter in this world. The first book, The Society, deals with Ouija boards and charm pouches.
Scott and Becka Williams have just moved to Crescent Bay, California. It's quite a change from being missionary kids in Brazil. Scott quickly makes friends at school, and they invite him to join them at the Ascension Bookshop after school. Scott goes, only to discover that his friends are dabbling in the occult: in the back room of the bookshop, they use a Ouija board to communicate with spirits.
Becka, meanwhile, joins the cross country team. She notices a curious thing: her new best friend (and star runner) has a necklace with a good luck pouch. That's not curious. What's curious is that Becka recognizes the pouch. It's the same kind of pouch used by real witch doctors in Brazil. Witchcraft in California? Oh yes.
The charm pouch is connected with the Ascension Bookshop society. While Scott learns how to appropriately deal with the Ouija board meetings, Becka tries to figure out how to inform her new friend about the evil pouch she wears.
Now, I'm not personally familiar with these kinds of demonic powers. I've never seen a Ouija board or a witch doctor's charm pouch. But to the best of my knowledge, Bill Myers accurately (if a bit sensationally) portrays the dangers. He also demonstrates how God's power is greater than that of demons, and how a Christian can use that power--but also how a Christian should be careful. Even a Christian armed with the power of God can be swayed or deceived.
What I didn't see in the book is any appeal for help. Scott and Becka pray, talk to God, and basically do all the rights things--EXCEPT. Except they don't ask for help from Christian adults. The occult is not to be toyed with. Scott should never have entered that room with the Ouija board again. He should have asked his mother, his pastor, or an elder in the church for help. There is no reason for a young, inexperienced boy to return alone to face demonic powers. Alone? No, he had God. But he had God the first time, and he was still deceived.
So that's my only quibble. Otherwise, a decent book. I intend to let my daughters read it.