Chapters 15 and 16 Summary and Analysis

"Velvet Claws"

The author begins this section, with the statement that she has told her painful story with the goal of informing her readers (Christians, ex-occultists, the general population) that the growing influence of the occult is a sign that the world is entering the End Times as predicted in the Christian book of Revelation (see "Objects/Places"). She cites several manifestations of occult presence - yoga, Eastern spirituality, occult-inspired reading in schools, television and film presentations, horoscopes and astrology - that, she suggests, are preparing the way for the Anti-Christ and his apparent miracles. She also suggests that contemporary Christian preachers and theologians are downplaying the miraculous nature of Christ's life and teaching, quoting examples from their writings that illustrate these beliefs and juxtaposing them with quotations from the Bible that, she contends, prove those beliefs wrong. Again...