Wow... wow... I can't believe people are reviewing this unironically.


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I think this is a categorically dumb book, whether or not you believe in angels, like ABBA. But there are so many ways to enjoy books on angelology (e.g., as mythology, fantasy, literary studies) that it doesn't really matter. The least we deserve from a book posing as a reference theological work and authored by a Catholic philosophy professor is that it should cite canonical or doctrinal texts, like the Bible or Summa Theologica. It actually pretends to do so but doesn't quite manage to sound convincing. This book is written in a Q&A format, with answers that seem suspiciously made up (or even more made-up than usual, if that's what you dig):

Q: How do angels move?
A: Like electrons, in a surprising way.

Q: How many angels are there?
A: More than five billion, for everyone has a guardian angel.

Q: Can angels become cars?
A: They can assume many forms, but they prefer natural, God-designed forms (like cats) to artificial forms like cars.

Yeah, no, because how in the great celestial fanfiction of unverifiable facts could you possibly know that? Is there a secret angel census we don't know about? Did an angel ping you this via divine group chat, or...??? I have sooo many questions..
The funny thing is that the author mentions more than once he is disappointed with the quality of angel books currently flooding the market; welp, I'm so sorry you had to read many books to get that impression, but this book *single-handedly* managed to disappoint me congratulations

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This is a very enlightening and easy to read book outlining Catholic philosophical perspectives on spirits and angelistic philosophy. Kreeft takes something I didn’t think would be that interesting and makes it fascinating. Even though I grew up in a Catholic family that prays the Guardian Angel prayer every evening, I didn’t realize how many questions I had about angels: How do they fit in with saints? What is our relationship with them—and vice versa? What is the purpose of the angels in the Bible? Why are angels still so popular even among people who do not follow any religion? Can we really name our guardian angel? This book answered these and many other questions.

These are just a few of the things that this book deepened my understanding of (some of these are directly taken from the text):

- Angels aren’t cute and cuddly. They are fierce warriors.
- There are good angels and bad angels.
- Angels do often come disguised.
- Angels are spirits superior to man and inferior to God.
- Each of us does have a very real guardian angel; there are even guardian angels for cities, states, nations, and other entities.
- Angels are: (1) creatures of God, (2) bodiless spirits, (3) with intelligence, (4) and will, (5) who live in God’s presence in heaven, (6) obey his will, (7) carry his messages, (8) assume bodies as we assume costumes, (9) influence our imagination, (10), but not our free will, and (11) move material things supernaturally.
- Kreeft includes a helpful diagram that places angels in the divisions of spirit and matter. God is obviously above all. Below Him, created by Him: Angels are pure spirit. Man is spirit and matter. And animals, plants, and minerals are pure matter.
- Angels can only suggest through our emotions and imagination. They cannot know our thoughts or influence our intellect or will without our consent. Neither angels nor demons can take away our free choice.
- Angels aren’t all the same. Not only are there different types and hierarchies of angels, each angel is a unique species.
- Angels don’t have wings. They are just depicted that way to show their role as God’s messengers.
- Angels can’t make us good, but they can help—as heavenly friends.

And that’s really only the tip of the iceberg! I also learned many other things outside the topic of angels—about prayer, heaven, the nature of souls, the difference between matter and spirit, the role of the will in sanctity, intelligence, the types of love, etc.

As always, Kreeft presents his topic in a way that is straight to the point, accessible, and relevant. The question and answer format makes it easy to flip to specific parts of the book (an element I like, although some of my fellow classmates—I read this for a class—didn’t). The book also includes several appendices: A Short Course in Angelistic Philosophy, A Snakebite Letter: Sex and the Media, What the New Catechism of the Catholic Church Says about Angels, Angels and Demons in the Bible, and a Bibliography.

Highly recommended for those who wish to learn more about this commonly misunderstood or overlooked facet of the Faith.

Simple and clear answers to questions about Angels and Demons as understood by Aquinas and the tradition of the Catholic church. A quick and easy beginner read to get the lay of the land.

Thank you, Peter.

Here Kreeft uses a well written populist approach to the subject of angels and demons. It is largely a response to the rising popularity of the subject, a decade or two ago, in "New-Age" circles.

Kreeft intersperses Magisterial teaching and thoughts from some of the Doctors of the Church, with his own meanderings (never less than orthodox). However, citations are few and the bibliography is limited.

The volume is short, easily readable and presents a good general understanding of angels and demons. Those looking for a scholarly or theological approach may want to look elsewhere.

Dobra knjiga, donosi autorova razmišljanja o anđelima i demonima kroz 100 pitanja i odgovora (autor je profesor filozofije). Na kraju knjige je nekoliko dodataka. Među ostalima, tu je popis mjesta u Bibliji na kojima se spominju anđeli, demoni, zlodusi itd., i izvadak iz Katekizma Katoličke Crkve o anđelima. Vrijedilo je čitanja.

Good reference book on angels

Well researched and referenced and written without ignoring humor. Keep in your library for those times the subject of angels pops up at family gatherings or on Facebook.

This book is excellent as a resource, divided into individual questions. The appendices at the end are also very helpful. It certainly answered all the angel/demon questions that I had. Now it’s going to sit on a shelf in my classroom for reference.

Pretty good
Very Kreeft esque
I wasn't convinced of a few things he said though, but overall it was a good introduction.
Question 99 has an answer that might appeal more however to those in high church denominations (catholics, orthodox, high anglican, high lutheran, etc)

EXCELLENTLY WRITTEN AND INFORMATIVE

This book strengthened my faith and enlightened me on a topic difficult to accept. I do accept it firmly and faithfully.

Good book. Question/answer format. I learned a couple new things in this one.