On the Demonic - Fulton Sheen - A Short Summary and Review
On the Demonic - Fulton Sheen - A Short Summary and Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A Short Summary:
On the Demonic gathers the writings and reflections of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen on the nature of evil, temptation, sin, and spiritual warfare. Drawing from scripture, philosophy, theology, and human experience, Sheen examines how evil operates not only through dramatic acts of violence or cruelty, but through pride, division, selfishness, despair, and moral confusion.
Rather than focusing on sensationalism, the book approaches the demonic as a corruption of what is good and ordered. Sheen argues that spiritual decay often begins subtly, through disordered desires, fractured communities, and the rejection of truth. At the same time, he emphasizes that evil can be resisted through faith, humility, prayer, discipline, charity, and a life oriented toward God.
My Favorite Quote from the Book:
"Anything that breaks pattern, destroys unity, corrupts, or produces discord is the diabolic."
-The Venerable Fulton Sheen, On the Demonic.
Questions to ponder while reading:
My Review:
What I appreciated most about On the Demonic is that Fulton Sheen treats evil seriously without turning it into spectacle. The book is not obsessed with horror-movie versions of possession or darkness. Instead, it focuses on the quieter and far more common ways evil enters human life: pride, division, hatred, vanity, greed, and despair.
Sheen writes with remarkable clarity. Even when discussing theology or philosophy, his arguments remain accessible and deeply practical. He consistently frames evil not as something glamorous or powerful in itself, but as the corruption and twisting of what was originally good. That distinction gives the book a very grounded and thoughtful tone.
There is also something unsettlingly modern about many of his observations. His warnings about disunity, confusion, moral relativism, and the loss of spiritual discipline feel incredibly relevant today. Even readers who are not Catholic would likely find much here worth reflecting on simply from a philosophical or moral perspective.
Ultimately, this is a serious but worthwhile read about the nature of evil and how to combat it. Sheen offers not fear, but responsibility: a reminder that spiritual life is shaped by habits, choices, virtue, and the pursuit of truth.
If you liked On the Demonic, you may also like:
The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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