Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World Book

I have to admit being in awe over Jeffrey Burton Russell's accomplishments. Mephistopheles is his fourth book about the characterization of evil throughout history. In the first of these books, The Devil, he describes himself as an historian of ideas. That description takes him through some fascinating places. Russell also admits that he believes in some kind of personified evil, and with his extremely lucid thinking he backs the idea up over these four volumes. (The second and third, Satan and Lucifer, respectively deal with time frames up to the Middle Ages; all four are discussed on my blog, the most recent here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.) Mephistopheles deals with the Devil from the Reformation until the late 20th century.

Burton understands and describes theology well. Theology isn't everyone's cup of tea, of course. This particular volume has plenty that's not theology since the character of evil was also addressed in literature and film in the modern period. Russell gives not only a history of the character of Mephistopheles, but also strong justification for keeping materialism in its place. A logical and well-informed thinker, he draws the reader into areas they might not want to go with extended discussions of the main works'including those of some unexpected writers'of authors who deal with the question of good and evil. Throughout it all, he keeps open the possibility that evil is real.

Written during the 1980s, this book contains the palpable terror of nuclear war. Over the decades we've perhaps become too comfortable with the idea of mutually assured destruction. Nevertheless, Russell's final chapter is chilling. Given how things have progressed since the 1980s'I remember well the terror of the Reagan years when war with Russia seemed inevitable'I can't help but wonder if Russell is correct. When unstable, hate-driven men are given access to nuclear codes we have to wonder if there will be anyone left to write a post-script to this book. Many would benefit from reading this book, even if they have no interest in who the Devil might be. It is a powerful statement that includes genuine insights, whether the reader agrees or not.