  this present darkness is a christian novel by frank e. peretti. published in 1986 by crossway books, this present darkness was peretti's first published novel for adults and shows contemporary views on angels, demons, prayer, and spiritual warfare as demons and angels interact and struggle for control of the citizens of the small town of ashton. it is critical of eastern and new age spiritual practices, portraying meditation as a means of demonic possession. having achieved remarkable sales success, the book has sold in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide and remained on the cba top best sellers list for over 150 consecutive weeks after its release. it has been instrumental in promoting belief in territorial spirits. its title comes from ephesians 6:12 (esv) : "for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". peretti followed this present darkness up with a sequel in 1988, piercing the darkness. ==plot summary== this present darkness takes place in the small college town of ashton. bernice kreuger, a reporter for the clarion, ashton's town newspaper, is falsely arrested on prostitution charges after taking a photograph at the annual ashton summer festival. when she is released the next day, she discovers that the film in her camera was destroyed. marshall hogan, owner/editor-in-chief of the clarion decides to go to the town police station/courthouse and confront alf brummel, the police chief, about the incident. brummel denies any wrongdoing on behalf of the police department and insists it was all a mistake. brummel then advises marshall to drop the matter. marshall does not fall for brummel's story and, ignoring brummel's advice, begins an investigation. as the investigation continues, marshall and bernice begin to realize that they're onto something much bigger than they thought. they slowly uncover a plot to take over the town via buying the college, that is being carried out by the universal consciousness society, a powerful new age group. when the society decides marshall has found out too much they take the clarion, and his house. they also falsely accuse him of murder, adultery and molesting his daughter, who attends the college and who unwittingly has been pulled into the society. when he and bernice a
1986_novels American_Christian_novels Charismatic_and_Pentecostal_Christianity