The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity (Meridian Books) - Softcover

Russell, Jeffrey Burton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0452005043 ISBN 13: 9780452005044

Publisher: New American Library, 1979

Synopsis

The human sense of evil is as old as human history - and as fresh as the seemingly senseless violence of today. In one culture after another, from the ancient temples of Babylonia to such modern films as The Exorcist and The Omen, the human mind has attempted to give this malevolent force a personified form - be it called Kali, Sekhmet, Pazuzu, Anath, Charun, Pan, Lilith, Saran, or the Devil. Combining superb scholarship with rich psychological insight, this major study examines the evolution of both the philosophic concept and the physical image of evil. The fascinating text and evocative illustrations explore the myriad ways in which evil has been embodied by the imagination ranging from two-faced gods that project evil as an essential part of the fullness of divinity, to nightmarish demonic creatures that stand as antagonistic opposites of the divine and as our infernal enemies. Engrossing and enlightening, The Devil offers an unparalleled overview of an eternal moral dilemma and of mankind's dramatically diverse attempts to meet it face to face.

About this title

Review

"All readers . . . will be enriched and stimulated by this honestly presented biography of the Evil One. The Devil, in religious myth, personal vision, and mystical reality, offers invaluable material for reflection and meditation." Studia Mystica"

"This fascinating story of 'the Devil' explores the concept and personification of evil (defined as 'the infliction of pain on sentient beings') from its ancient beginnings into New Testament times." Seventeenth Century News, Summer-Fall, 1978"

"Russell is not only a conscientious historian, anxious to examine in texts, myths, legends, art and literature the persistence and transformation of a particular idea. He is also an introspective essayist who acknowledges his own continuing struggle to understand the nature and source of evil." Robert Coles, New York Times Book Review"

"This is a serious work by a first-rate medievalist who has turned his eyes to antiquity in order to elucidate the sources of man's experience of the evil one. The result is scholarly, readable, and comprehensive. . . . Russell's notations are copious and impressive, attesting to the vast amount of research that has gone into this study. The text is richly illustrated with some fifty well-chosen plates. . . . An exceptionally lucid study and a major contribution to the field." Review of Books and Religion"

"All readers . . . will be enriched and stimulated by this honestly presented biography of the Evil One. The Devil, in religious myth, personal vision, and mystical reality, offers invaluable material for reflection and meditation." Studia Mystica"

"This fascinating story of 'the Devil' explores the concept and personification of evil (defined as 'the infliction of pain on sentient beings') from its ancient beginnings into New Testament times." Seventeenth Century News"

"Russell is not only a conscientious historian, anxious to examine in texts, myths, legends, art and literature the persistence and transformation of a particular idea. He is also an introspective essayist who acknowledges his own continuing struggle to understand the nature and source of evil."--Robert Coles, New York Times Book Review

"This is a serious work by a first-rate medievalist who has turned his eyes to antiquity in order to elucidate the sources of man's experience of the evil one. The result is scholarly, readable, and comprehensive. . . . Russell's notations are copious and impressive, attesting to the vast amount of research that has gone into this study. The text is richly illustrated with some fifty well-chosen plates. . . . An exceptionally lucid study and a major contribution to the field."--Review of Books and Religion

"All readers . . . will be enriched and stimulated by this honestly presented biography of the Evil One. The Devil, in religious myth, personal vision, and mystical reality, offers invaluable material for reflection and meditation."--Studia Mystica

"This fascinating story of 'the Devil' explores the concept and personification of evil (defined as 'the infliction of pain on sentient beings') from its ancient beginnings into New Testament times."--Seventeenth Century News

About the Author

Jeffrey Burton Russell is Professor of History Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Edition details

• Publisher: New American Library
• Publication date: 1979
• ISBN 10: 0452005043
• ISBN 13: 9780452005044
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 276