Demystifying Evil - by Ingrid Faro (Paperback)

About the Book

How can we understand God's work in a world permeated with evil? Narrating her own wrestling with evil as well as engaging in biblical and philosophical analysis, biblical scholar Ingrid Faro explores the many dimensions to evil in a way that is soberly honest, biblically engaged, and theologically nuanced.

Book Synopsis

How can we understand God's work in a world permeated with evil? Narrating her own wrestling with evil as well as engaging in biblical and philosophical analysis, biblical scholar Ingrid Faro explores the many dimensions to evil in a way that is soberly honest, biblically engaged, and theologically nuanced.

Review Quotes

"'Life is hard. The world is filled with evil.' These are the first words in chapter one of Dr. Ingrid Faro's wonderful book, Demystifying Evil. The reality of evil is everywhere, and we must have tools and strategies to navigate our approach to evil. Dr. Faro does a fantastic job of weaving both the theological and practical, which enables us to face the evil in our world and not be stifled. Dr. Faro is an outstanding biblical scholar and a tremendous communicator. I highly recommend this book without hesitation, and hopefully you, too, will gain insights as I have from Dr. Faro."

"Blending personal testimony, biblical study, and theological reflection, Ingrid Faro probes evil-our world's greatest menace. She is readable, intelligent, chilling, and, at last, reassuring."

"Ingrid Faro offers readers a gift-of her scholarship as well as her life. Her study of the Bible, along with personal stories and practical insights, can educate as well as encourage those who try to make sense of the vicissitudes of life. Faro says evil is not the absence of good but the corruption of good; she invites us to be agents of God's goodness in our world and to let God make beauty from ashes."

"Ingrid Faro weaves her stunning story throughout this richly researched and deep, biblically based study. A journey for both the mind and soul, Demystifying Evil draws from Old and New Testament scholarship and the author's own experience and expertise; it guides readers through a depth of understanding of the evil within, the evil without, where evil comes from, and most vitally, how to be truly and faithfully strong in the Lord. I am so grateful to Ingrid for her transparency and generosity as she shares her own journey so readers may be changed by the powerful and transforming love of God and gain an understanding essential for every Christian."

"Ingrid Faro's Demystifying Evil is profoundly philosophical and theological, passionate, and practical. As long as evil remains mysterious, it cannot be directly opposed and overcome. Evil defined can be defeated. Alas, we are not helpless against evil. This book offers each of us a stark challenge to live our lives fully embracing God's flourishing goodness, or we will find ourselves acquiescing and participating in wickedness. We cannot remain neutral. We are either a force for evil or good. Faro urges, let's choose the good!"

"Jesus taught us to pray, 'Deliver us from evil.' Jesus believed in the destructive power of evil, and he warned us to avoid and combat it. Ingrid Faro equips us to do just that by explaining what Scripture says about evil. She masterfully moves between simple explanation, rich theological analysis, and poignant personal stories. This is not a dull treatise on evil; it is a call to embrace and participate in the grace of God to bring goodness to the world."

"Philosophers and theologians frequently distinguish between the 'emotional' and 'intellectual' problems of evil, and they make the point that these matters need to be approached differently. Ingrid Faro's Demystifying Evil beautifully brings together both the emotional and intellectual, the personal and the intellectual-and biblical and theological. In a wonderful and truly powerful way, Faro draws out the richness of the biblical text as it speaks to evil in the world and attests to God's confrontation of and victory over it in the gospel of Christ. While doing so, Faro weaves in her own honest and penetrating story of traumas and abuse, of encounters with deep evil and the demonic realm, of inner struggles with perfectionism and pride and failure, of anger at God, and of brokenness before him. But she also came to realize the power of Christ to transform lives bludgeoned and ruined by sin, evil, and demonic powers. The book also includes rich and practical lessons of gratitude, contentment, trusting in God, and allowing his grace to transform us. It is a compelling book, and I highly recommend it."

"Probing the depths of human experience, Ingrid Faro addresses evil, what it is, how it works, and how God in his goodness overcomes it. Breathtaking in her honesty and relentless in her biblical scholarship, Faro broaches the subject we all must eventually face. Demystifying Evil is a masterful treatment of a fundamental issue from a voice uniquely gifted to write this book. A truly overwhelmingly powerful book."

About the Author

Ingrid Faro (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is coordinator of the MA in Old Testament program and visiting professor at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. She previously served as dean of academic affairs at Northern Seminary, dean of theology at the Scandinavian School of Theology, and director of masters programs at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is the author of Evil in Genesis and coauthor of Honest Answers. Additionally, she serves on the editorial board of the Bulletin for Biblical Research. She speaks and preaches internationally and lives just outside Chicago, Illinois.