Communicating the Gospel Where Power and Fear Reign Whether in New Age mysticism, occultism, Haitian voodooism, Chinese ancestor veneration, or Japanese Shintoism, animistic beliefs are widespread, even today. Gailyn Van Rheenen turns our attention to what Paul Hiebert called "the excluded middle," the intermediate realm of spirits, ancestors, gods, and ghosts. Rather than being merely anecdotal, he presents a rigorous, biblical, theological, and anthropological foundation for ministering in animistic contexts. This work provides a much-needed analysis of animistic belief systems and practices. It is unique in the theological and biblical perspectives it brings to the subject. - Timothy Warner The author is a careful scholar, who writes out of a thorough knowledge of classical understandings, contemporary thought, personal experience, analyzing the whole in light of a completely authoritative Bible... The result is a lucid and balanced work that is second to none. - David Hesselgrave (from the Foreword) While evidence of the original purpose of the book as a doctoral project is visible, that is the only source that draws together this wealth of materials into a very readable yet scholarly work. It would be a mistake to consign this topic only to those who work among the tribal peoples. - Norman Allison The author is a careful scholar, who writes out of a thorough knowledge of classical understandings, contemporary thought, personal experience, analyzing the whole in light of a completely authoritative Bible... The result is a lucid and balanced work that is second to none.- David Hesselgrave (from the Foreword) This work provides a much-needed analysis of animistic belief systems and practices. It is unique in the theological and biblical perspectives it brings to the subject.- Timothy Warner While evidence of the original purpose of the book as a doctoral project is visible, that is the only source that draws together this wealth of materials into a very readable yet scholarly work. It would be a mistake to consign this topic only to those who work among the tribal peoples.- Norman Allison Gailyn Van Rheenen (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is director of the church planting ministry Mission Alive (www.missionalive.org), adjunct professor of missions at Abilene Christian University, and former missionary to East Africa. His website is www.missiology.org. Used Book in Good Condition