Satan in America The Devil We Know
Satan in America: The Devil We Know by W. Scott Poole, published by Bloomsbury Academic on December 16, 2010, explores the intricate relationship between America and the concept of the devil. This 274-page work delves into how various groups, from eighteenth-century evangelists to modern filmmakers, have utilized the figure of Satan to articulate societal fears, injustices, and national identity. Poole examines the role of theological evil within the broader context of American religious history, highlighting its significance as a cultural metaphor that reflects historical changes.
Readers will find an analysis that spans a range of topics, including religion, demonology, and the cultural implications of evil in American society. The book discusses how the devil has been employed to address issues such as war, sexuality, and social justice, revealing a persistent shadow that contrasts with the idealistic narratives of American progress. By intertwining historical events with religious themes, Poole presents a nuanced understanding of how the figure of Satan has shaped and mirrored the complexities of American life.
Official synopsis Publisher
Satan in America tells the story of America’s complicated relationship with the devil. “New light” evangelists of the eighteenth century, enslaved African Americans, demagogic politicians, and modern American film-makers have used the devil to damn their enemies, explain the nature of evil and injustice, mount social crusades, construct a national identity, and express anxiety about matters as diverse as the threat of war to the dangers of deviant sexuality. The idea of the monstrous and the bizarre providing cultural metaphors that interact with historical change is not new. Poole takes a new tack by examining this idea in conjunction with the concerns of American religious history. The book shows that both the range and the scope of American religiousness made theological evil an especially potent symbol. Satan appears repeatedly on the political, religious, and cultural landscape of the United States, a shadow self to the sunny image of American progress and idealism.
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