Devil and His Advocates

Satan is not Gods enemy in the Bible, and he is not always bad. Erik Butler explores the Devil through literature, theology, visual art, and music from antiquity to the present, discussing canonical authors and lesser-known sources. Satan's objective is to test human beings, whose moral worth and piety leave room for doubt. He can be manipulative, but at worst he facilitates what mortals are inclined to do.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2021
Publisher: Reaktion Books

Satan, often portrayed as the ultimate adversary of God in the Bible, is not always evil or bad. In his book, "Satan: Not Gods Enemy in the Bible," Erik Butler explores the Devil through literature, theology, visual art, and music from antiquity to the present, discussing canonical authors such as Dante, Milton, and Goethe, as well as lesser-known sources. Satan's primary objective, as depicted in the Book of Job, is to test human beings and their moral worth and piety, which leaves room for doubt. While Satan can be manipulative, he does not necessarily facilitate what mortals are inclined to do. The book argues that the phrase "The Devil made me do it" does not hold up in the court of cosmic law and provides wit and surprising examples to explain why.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 171 x 220 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789143737