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Summary: hilarious
Review: interesting and sometimes clever as it must be to propound such a theory. in brief, ludicrous- short on evidence and long on interpretation. the only somewhat viable point is that people did use satan to further their purposes. however, this in no way detracts from his reality. people today may use hitler to scare their children. nonetheless, he was horribly real, yet unlike hitler satan is still on the prowl. according to usual suspects, the devil's greatest trick was convincing the world that he didn't exist. pagels perpetuates that deception, and those who buy into her "insight" invite him into their lives, cloaked in light and individual prowess, concealing darkness, despair, and death.
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Summary: More like a "social history" of Satan
Review: This is extremely good and informative. Pagels is not out to discuss the origin of the big bad spirit with horns, but the ways in which "religious" people have employed the idea of Satan to characterize their enemies or oppressors. One chapter is called "The Social History of Satan," and I almost think this would have been a better title for the whole book. Pagels also presents fascinating information on the many strains of thought in early Christianity; it made me want to read the recently (50 years ago) recovered "Gospel of Phillip" in particular.
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Summary: Well written and very informative...
Review: Elaine Pagels is not only a respected researcher in the area of Gnosticism and Early Christian History, but she is also an excellent writer that conveys complex ideas with simplicity and eloquence. She has the ability, unlike many scholars, to explain history with a lively wit and style that helps to keep an average reader's attention while at the same time revealing scholarship and logical thought. This book explains the evolution of Satan as an idea from its beginnings in the Old Testament to the beliefs of Orthodox Christians of the early first millennia and those of the Gnostics. This is a must read for all who wish to learn about Christianity and the origins of one of its main precepts.
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Summary: ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING!!!
Review: I was astounded at Ms.Pagels ability to take so much information and condense it into a well written and understandable text. If only all Christians could read this book and allow a dialogue open about the concept of the "other" as it relates not only to their spiritual beliefs, but also the history of their religion. I was enthralled by the history and insight that Ms. Pagels provided in this ground-breaking work.
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Summary: A Good View of a Darker Side of the Bible
Review: Overall, the book needed a subtitle. I picked up the book expecting an overview about Satan in biblical history - his story and how he came to be where he is viewed today. Instead, I got a view of "satan" as encompassing demonization in the Bible. It was a pleasant surprise to find this though. The book does an excellent job of putting the writings of the bible into a context where the language is used in order to demonize enemies depending on when the particular piece of the bible was written. I now look at the bible when I'm reading some of the more darker passages with a new eye on what the author was trying to say in subtext as well as on the surface. In addition, I received an overview in social history around the time of the bible books were written. The book is written fairly cleanly and kept me going through a long storm delay at the airport and some extended flights for Christmas. The bible is not all happiness and love - read the book and see if you learn something new.
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Summary: A neutral look at the early history of the concept of satan.
Review: Ms. Pagels presents one of the few religious texts that displays a neutral look at the touchy subjects of religion and religious history. This book isn't neccissarily for the reader looking for an uplifting spiritual event; rather, it is for those truely interested in collecting facts and formulating their OWN ideas instead of being spoonfed by self-righteous religious fanatics. Excellent reading for those with an open mind.
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Summary: This book is not about Satan at all!!
Review: Pagel approaches one of the most fascinating topics in western religious thought and bores you to tears. This was a shallow attempt of presenting her own biased ideas in a pseudo-intellectual manner. She tells scholars in the introduction that the book is not even intended for their use, while referring serious readers to journal articles about the topic. Her long and irrelevant tirade about the gnostic gospels seem to detract from a book that showed some potential. The idea that Christians have used the term Satan or Satanic to combat their enemies is a correct observation, but to say that the concept of Satan was created for that purpose is at best suspect. She does not seriously consider other prevelant myths and stories that were present in the Middle East at the time. This book was not nearly as well written as her other works, nor is it really relevant to any serious study.
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Summary: Interesting but a little biased
Review: I liked this book and the background information it gave. This is a good book for those interested in learning more about the darker side(s) of Christianity. Also recommended: The Encyclopedia of Angels, The History of the Devil, The Satanic Bible and The Black Arts.
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Summary: A fascinating expose of the message of hatred in the Bible.
Review: Elaine Pagels has made a signal contribution to our understanding of how a message of hatred has become a pernicious, if little recognized, element of the Christian tradition. I became interested in New Testament studies because I wanted to understand how the Christian message of love could be distorted to provide justification for such evils as racism and the holocaust. Pagels clearly traces the strong tendency of human beings to demonize their opponents which goes back to the pre-christian hebrew tradition. This book is an excellent introduction to this important question. After reading this, I highly recommend that you graduate to John Dominic Crossan's superb "Who Killed Jesus?", which shows how the New Testament's passion narrative became a source of anti-semitism in Christianity. While Crossan's discussion is somehwat more technical than Pagels, the latter's introduction in "The Origin of Satan" will prepare you and leave you hungry for more.
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Summary: the only thing more interesting would be his autobiography!
Review: This is a very interesting book, whether you believe in Satan or not. If you don't, then it is a good scholarly treatise on where the myth of the incarnation of evil came from and how it developed. If you do, then it raises questions as to the exact nature of Satan, and if maybe he actually works for God. If you are interested in the origin of religious beliefs, then you must read this book
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