The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis
Recording the history of the belief in the existence of Satan, this book draws from the Bible, the poetry of Dante and Milton, the legend of Faust, and from modern novels and plays such as the works of Mark Twain and G.B. Shaw, and the spiritual writing of C. S. Lewis. Fintan Lyons O.S.B. chronicles the decline of that belief through the centuries as well as the attempts to treat the problem of evil philosophically, using the insights of thinkers such as Karl Barth.

At the heart of this book is the attempt to synthesise or reconcile traditional belief with contemporary concern or even alarm regarding evil in the world. Lyons argues that evidence for the persistence of evil has been striking in modern times in wars and atrocities, while phenomena such as Satanic Cults and possible or real diabolical possession have continued to increase. The Catholic Church reacted to this situation in 1998 with a revision of the 1614 Rite of Exorcism, analysed in this book from both theological and psychological standpoints. By arguing that the transition from belief in Satan to personification of evil in historical regimes and characters brings contemporary culture into sharp focus, this book chronicles the history of humanity's attempt to understand the disturbing and mysterious reality of evil.
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The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis
Recording the history of the belief in the existence of Satan, this book draws from the Bible, the poetry of Dante and Milton, the legend of Faust, and from modern novels and plays such as the works of Mark Twain and G.B. Shaw, and the spiritual writing of C. S. Lewis. Fintan Lyons O.S.B. chronicles the decline of that belief through the centuries as well as the attempts to treat the problem of evil philosophically, using the insights of thinkers such as Karl Barth.

At the heart of this book is the attempt to synthesise or reconcile traditional belief with contemporary concern or even alarm regarding evil in the world. Lyons argues that evidence for the persistence of evil has been striking in modern times in wars and atrocities, while phenomena such as Satanic Cults and possible or real diabolical possession have continued to increase. The Catholic Church reacted to this situation in 1998 with a revision of the 1614 Rite of Exorcism, analysed in this book from both theological and psychological standpoints. By arguing that the transition from belief in Satan to personification of evil in historical regimes and characters brings contemporary culture into sharp focus, this book chronicles the history of humanity's attempt to understand the disturbing and mysterious reality of evil.
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The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis

The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis

by Fintan Lyons O.S.B.
The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis

The Persistence of Evil: A Cultural, Literary and Theological Analysis

by Fintan Lyons O.S.B.

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Overview

Recording the history of the belief in the existence of Satan, this book draws from the Bible, the poetry of Dante and Milton, the legend of Faust, and from modern novels and plays such as the works of Mark Twain and G.B. Shaw, and the spiritual writing of C. S. Lewis. Fintan Lyons O.S.B. chronicles the decline of that belief through the centuries as well as the attempts to treat the problem of evil philosophically, using the insights of thinkers such as Karl Barth.

At the heart of this book is the attempt to synthesise or reconcile traditional belief with contemporary concern or even alarm regarding evil in the world. Lyons argues that evidence for the persistence of evil has been striking in modern times in wars and atrocities, while phenomena such as Satanic Cults and possible or real diabolical possession have continued to increase. The Catholic Church reacted to this situation in 1998 with a revision of the 1614 Rite of Exorcism, analysed in this book from both theological and psychological standpoints. By arguing that the transition from belief in Satan to personification of evil in historical regimes and characters brings contemporary culture into sharp focus, this book chronicles the history of humanity's attempt to understand the disturbing and mysterious reality of evil.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780567710130
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 08/24/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 384
File size: 943 KB

About the Author

Revd Fintan Lyons O.S.B. is a Senior Monk at Glentsal Abbey, Ireland. He taught in the Pontifical Liturgical Institute and in the Angelicum University, Rome, in M.I. College, Limerick University, in Beeson Divinity School (Southern Baptist), Birmingham Al. and was a member of the International Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogue.
Fintan Lyons O.S.B. is a Senior Monk at Glenstal Abbey, Ireland.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1:

Theodicy

Chapter 2:

Doing Theodicy while Talking of Evil

Chapter 3:

Does the Devil Exist? A Persistent Belief

Chapter 4:
The Representation of Satan up to the Reformation

Chapter 5:
The Reformation

Chapter 6:
The Catholic Reform and the Struggle with Satan

Chapter 7:
The Devil in the Era of Modernity

Chapter 8:
Twentieth-Century Chronicles of Evil

Chapter 9:
Exorcism. Preliminary Considerations

Chapter 10:
Toward a theological and psychological analysis of the Rite of Exorcism

Chapter 11:
Concluding Reflections

Bibliography
Index
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