Satan in America: The Devil We Know
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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Satan in America: The Devil We Know
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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Satan in America: The Devil We Know

Satan in America: The Devil We Know

by W. Scott Poole College of Charleston
Satan in America: The Devil We Know

Satan in America: The Devil We Know

by W. Scott Poole College of Charleston

Hardcover

$66.00 
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Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780742561717
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 11/16/2009
Pages: 274
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

W. Scott Poole is associate professor in history at the College of Charleston. He is the author of five books dealing with American religion, race, and popular culture.

Table of Contents

Preface: "Night Stalker"
Chapter 1: "The Devil is Come Down in Great Wrath"
Chapter 2: Darkness Invisible
Chapter 3: The Devils of Daniel Webster
Chapter 4: Casting out Devils
Chapter 5: Hellhound on my Trail
Chapter 6: Lucifer Rising
Chapter 7: The Beast
Epilogue: Shame the Devil
Hunting the Devil: A Bibliographic Essay
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