| |
Apr 19, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
2012-2013 HillBook (Class of 2016) [ARCHIVED HILL BOOK]
|
REL 123 - Demons, Devils and Satans: Monsters of ReligionThree Credits
Spring Semester
Monotheistic traditions maintain that God is both all-powerful and just. Yet, they simultaneously speak of demons, devils, and satans – characters who threaten both God and His control over the universe. How can such an obvious contradiction stand? This course will examine the narratives and images of demonic characters, by looking at scriptural texts, interpretive materials and folklore. In our investigation, we will address such questions as: Who or what is considered Evil? How does evil exist in a world in which God is good? Is there a universal concept of Satan? Do demons and the demonic straddle traditional lines or are they tradition-specific? In other words, does each tradition create the demon most appropriate for it? What are these characters good for? What can they tell us about how each tradition conceives of itself and its place in the human-God relationship?
Fulfills the Cornerstone Religious Studies Requirement.
|
|