www.angels.canbefound.allover.theweb

What could be simpler? Search the World Wide Web for "angels" and -- voila! -- a split-second later the computer returns more than 750 references.

The results show that the celestial beings are far outnumbered by links to information for the Anaheim Angels baseball team, TV shows like"Charlie's Angels" and "Touched by an Angel," the motorcycle group known as Hell's Angels, and the top-gun aviators of the Blue Angels.

Nevertheless, the heavenly messengers hold their own in cyberspace. Both sacred and profane, the web covers every angel angle.

What's out there?

One site grapples with the question of whether angels are real (http://applecity.com/Angels/angels.htm). Although there is no definitive answer, the author provides numerous resources to help viewers answer the question for themselves.

The site includes poems about angels, Bible references, angel stories, books on the subject, an angel art gallery and links to other angel sites. In addition, the author offers a free e-mail newsletter called "The Angel Touch," featuring inspirational articles.

"Angels on the Net" (http://www.net angel.com/) claims to be the world's largest and most dynamic on-line resource for angels. Its mission is "to spread the word of God and His angels through sharing ideas, stories, comments and gifts." Although very commercial, the site has some interesting sections, like an angel chat room, questions and comments, and numerous alleged real-life encounters with angels.

Theology

An extensive theological treatise offering a biblical view on angels can be found at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1327/angels1.html.

The basic premise is:"Beings do exist in places other than earth -- the universe is full of beings. Some countless beings fill the void around us. The amazing beings, who live in the heavenly realm, are known as angels. Since the creation of man, angels have mingled in human affairs."

The author deals with such questions as whether angels are real, what they are, how many there are, what they look like, our relationship to them, and how they are depicted in the fine arts. Satan and the evil angels are also part of the discussion.

One of the few Roman Catholic sites dealing with the topic is http:// www.csn.net/advent/cathen/. Here, there are extensive links to information that focuses on the spiritual dimension of angels. The major topic areas are general articles, good angels, evil angels and theological works. This site, sponsored by New Advent, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization which uses electronic media for evangelization, also hosts the Catholic Encyclopedia project.

"Catholic Online" (http://www.catholic.org/saints/angels.html) devotes a major heading to "Angels: The Magnificent Servants of God." The viewer can choose among many topics to explore including: What are angels? How do we know angels exist? The Nine Choirs of Angels, Guardian Angels, Prayers to the Angels of God, Angels of the Church (from Revelation), The Fallen Angels, and Read about Angels in the Bible!

Personal web pages also expound on the subject. At http://pages.prodigy.com/swgr90a/ arch.htm, Lance Bernard has put together an impressive array of angel links. He dedicates this resource to his guardian angel,"a dark and mysterious creature whom, for lack of a better name, I call Mikki."

In a special section devoted to"Mikki," Mr. Bernard admits that his angel may not exist outside of his imagination. However, he says,"she is as real to me as is anything else we normally call `reality.' I find myself in the midst of a very strange and inexplicable state-of-mind: Objective reality is undeniably real, while subjective reality, though lacking in the sensory data normally associated with `reality,' exerts a force upon my life that often far exceeds the power of objective reality's insistent immediacy. I am therefore extremely hesitant to assert that She is not real, for it may be that the reality of the heavenly exists according to a wholly different standard than does the reality of my everyday world."

Angel media

Media-wise,"Angel Times" (http:// www.lynxu.com/angeltimes/), an international, full-color magazine devoted to sharing information about angels, provides some of its material in an electronic format. It publishes interfaith stories about angel visitations, communications and healing experiences. The publisher's philosophy is that "angels appear to all people, regardless of culture or religion."

Several web sites consider angels to be one facet of the paranormal experience. Mary Christopher (http:// www.whiptail.com/mc/angel.html) claims that angels want to be our friends, and she claims to have developed a form of meditation that will enable people to come in contact with the spiritual beings.

Ms. Christopher states her belief: "For me, one of the most wonderful discoveries about Angels is that they are not the invention of any particular culture, religion or tradition. Angels turn up in nearly all cultures and religions in some form. Their names may be different, the descriptions may vary, but they always leave a carefully marked trail leading us deeper and deeper into the Divine."

Dozens of commercial sites attest that the cherubs have a widespread market. With names like"Angel Wings,""Angelic Gifts,""Angelic Presents," or"Just Wingin' It," the cyber stores are selling everything that can display the winged images -- from clothing to lawn ornaments.

The casual browser will find sites that claim they can name or paint your guardian angel. "Age of Angels" says it features"the finest angel-related products, certified psychic, angelic channeler, and astrologer on-site." Or, rent a guardian angel/sitter for your pet while you're away through a site called "Animal Angels."

One of the commercial sites worth visiting is"Angels Over Sedona" (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/home pages/RS_Angels/) which displays a beautiful four-color photo by Richard Stedman of an angel cloud formation over the painted mountains of the Arizona desert. "I call this my miracle gift from the angels in Sedona Arizona because I did not see the angels until the film was developed," he claims.

Through the ages, people of all cultures have had a fascination with angels. Today, that same sense of wonder is captured in yet another dimension: the endless web of cyberspace.

(Editor's note: Barbara Oliver, business manager of The Evangelist, is also its webmaster. Check out our site at www.global2000.net/evangelist.)

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