In the biblical story, there are forces outside ourselves somehow wreaking havoc in our lives, seducing us away from the God of love. Those forces are known as—to use biblical terms—powers and principalities. They refer to the belief held by the writers of the Bible, including the prophet Daniel and the apostle Paul, that behind the actions of people and groups of people (including nations, churches, and institutions) there exist spiritual forces whose agenda runs counter to the way of God.
