Journalist Says Investigating the Evidence for Angels and Demons Strengthened His Faith
Michael Foust
Audio By Carbonatix
By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Journalist Billy Hallowell says he always begins his investigations into the supernatural with a dash of skepticism – as a Christian who believes in the reality of the unseen but also understands that some accounts are exaggerated or even outright fabricated.
“Prove it to me,” he told Crosswalk Headlines, describing his mindset.
Hallowell approached his latest documentary on angels and demons with that same posture, digging into each claim with a healthy dose of skepticism while remaining open to wherever the evidence leads. The result is a new CBN film, Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons, that explores reported encounters and weighs them against the evidence. It’s the second installment in a series, following an earlier documentary on miracles.
Hallowell said the findings consistently strengthen his faith.
“I'm a Christian. I believe the Bible,” he said. “But yet, when people tell me they've had an experience with a demon or an angel – my first thought is, ‘Show me the details, the information that would back it up.’”
One such account in the documentary is that of Bruce Van Natta, a former truck driver who says he survived a catastrophic accident after being crushed beneath a semi – an experience he believes involved angelic intervention.
“That was one that really challenged me,” Hallowell said, adding that the accident nearly killed Van Natta before he miraculously survived. “Going into it, I was a little skeptical, and then after seeing the evidence and hearing what he went through – I walked away saying, ‘Well, there's another example that seems to challenge that skepticism.’”
Another account in the film involves psychiatrist Richard Gallagher and a woman he calls “Julia,” a Satan worshipper who claimed to be oppressed by demons and wanted relief.
“Here's this man who teaches at Columbia University, who is Ivy League educated, who was a skeptic [but] no longer is because of Julia,” Hallowell said.
Gallagher described Julia’s ability to allegedly astral project and recount, in real time, what individuals miles away were doing and even wearing – details Gallagher would then verify by calling those individuals, finding her descriptions matched their circumstances.
Hallowell acknowledged such stories are “eerie.”
“But you have to come back to the reminder of, okay, as Christians, you have authority over this. You do not need to be afraid of it,” he said.
Ultimately, Hallowell said such accounts can serve as powerful evidence that challenges doubt and points people toward deeper spiritual questions.
“When you do have cases like this, what you're left with is: There's no other explanation other than what this person is saying happened. It becomes an apologetics tool.
“We're in a unique era right now where these topics of miracles, angels and demons, heaven and hell – all of these things, they're actually becoming for a generation that's had secularism pushed on them for so long, they're becoming compelling, evidentiary tools to help bring them to faith.”
He added, “I actually do think it can expand our faith and at least corroborate it.”
Related Article
5 Myths about Angels and Demons
Photo Credit: ©CBN
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
