
Why do the innocent suffer in a world created by a loving God? Does this mean that God cannot prevent this suffering despite His supposed omnipotence? Or is God not loving after all? This in brief is 'the problem of evil' The Devil provides one solution to this problem his rebellion against God & hatred of His works is responsible for evil The Christian Devil has fascinated writers & theologians since the time of the New Testament & inspired many dramatic & haunting works of art Today he remains a potent image in popular culture The Devil A Very Short Introduction presents an introduction to the Devil in the history of ideas & the lives of real people Darren Oldridge shows us that he is a more important figure in western history than is often appreciated & also a richly complex & contradictory one Oldridge focuses on three main themes the idea of the Devil being integral to western thought from the early Middle Ages to the beginnings of modernity; the principle of 'demonic inversion' (the idea that as the eternal leader of the opposition the Devil represents the mirror image of goodness); & the multiplicity & instability of ideas about the Devil While belief in the Devil has declined the idea of an abstract force of evil is still remarkably strong Oldridge concludes by exploring 'demonological' ways of thinking in our own time including allegations of 'satanic ritual abuse' & the on-going 'war on terror' ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable