Ingrid Faro

Foreword by

Heather Davediuk Gingrich

Demystifying

EVIL

A Biblical and Personal Exploration

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

©2023 by Ingrid Faro

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press® is the publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®. For more information, visit intervarsity.org.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

While any stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

The publisher cannot verify the accuracy or functionality of website URLs used in this book beyond the date of publication.

Cover design: Kate Lillard
Images: Getty / 1256177926—snake head shape

ISBN 978-1-5140-0494-4 (digital)

ISBN 978-1-5140-0493-7 (print)

This digital document has been produced by Nord Compo.

To those who mourn

ISAIAH 61:3

CONTENTS

Trigger Warning

Foreword by Heather Davediuk Gingrich

Acknowledgments

PART 1: WRESTLING WITH EVIL

1 Entering the Conflict

2 Distinguishing Between Evil, Suffering, and Pain and the Ambiguity of Evil

3 Defining Evil—Biblically

PART 2: NATURAL CAUSES: COSMIC SEED AND NATURAL EVIL

4 Action-Consequence and the Cosmic Seed

5 Nature: Are All Natural Forces Natural?

PART 3: HUMAN CAUSES: SURPRISING WAYS WE PARTICIPATE IN EVIL AND GOOD

6 Human Need and Desire: The Misuse of Intended Good

7 Self-Sufficiency: The Root of Pride and Insecurity

8 Human Responsibility and Authority

9 Human Freedom and the Path to Restore the World

PART 4: UNSEEN CAUSES: SPIRITUAL FORCES AT WORK

10 Malevolent Forces and the Rise of the Satan

11 Demons, Angels, and Other Spiritual Entities

12 The Divine Council and the “Rules of Engagement”

PART 5: GOD AT WORK

13 The Power of Mercy and Grace

14 The Costly Work of Forgiveness

15 For Those Who Mourn: Turning Ashes into Beauty

Bibliography

General Index

Scripture Index

Praise for Demystifying Evil

About the Author

More Titles from InterVarsity Press

TRIGGER WARNING

THE MATERIAL PRESENTED and the personal stories told in this book include accounts of violence, abuse, and trauma. A cautionary warning is advised to the reader that these may reactivate memories and trigger subsequent reactionary responses.

FOREWORD

HEATHER DAVEDIUK GINGRICH

I REMEMBER BEING FASCINATED by M. Scott Peck’s book, People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil,1 when it first came out in 1983. In it, Peck recounted the story of Bobby and his parents as an illustration of human evil.2 As a Christmas present, Bobby’s parents gave him the gun that his ...