Awards
- Winner of Winner of the 2017 Best First Book in the History of Religions award by the American Academy of Religion.
Overview
If we are to believe sensationalist media coverage, Satanism is, at its most benign, the purview of people who dress in black, adorn themselves with skull and pentagram paraphernalia, and listen to heavy metal. At its most sinister, its adherents are worshippers of evil incarnate and engage in violent and perverse secret rituals, the details of which mainstream society imagines with a fascination verging on the obscene. Children of Lucifer debunks these facile characterizations by exploring the historical origins of modern Satanism. Ruben van Luijk traces the movement's development from a concept invented by a Christian church eager to demonize its internal and external competitors to a positive (anti-)religious identity embraced by various groups in the modern West. Van Luijk offers a comprehensive intellectual history of this long and unpredictable trajectory. This story involves Romantic poets, radical anarchists, eccentric esotericists, Decadent writers, and schismatic exorcists, among others, and culminates in the establishment of the Church of Satan by carnival entertainer Anton Szandor LaVey. Yet it is more than a collection of colorful characters and unlikely historical episodes. The emergence of new attitudes toward Satan proves to be intimately linked to the ideological struggle for emancipation that transformed the West and is epitomized by the American and French Revolutions. It is also closely connected to secularization, that other exceptional historical process which saw Western culture spontaneously renounce its traditional gods and enter into a self-imposed state of religious indecision. Children of Lucifer makes the case that the emergence of Satanism presents a shadow history of the evolution of modern civilization as we know it. Offering the most comprehensive account of this history yet written, van Luijk proves that, in the case of Satanism, the facts are much more interesting than the fiction.
Full Product Details
Author: Ruben van Luijk (Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Radboud University Nijmegen)
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:
Width: 23.90cm
, Height: 4.10cm
, Length: 16.30cm
Weight: 1.021kg
ISBN: 9780190275105
ISBN 10: 0190275103
Pages: 632
Publication Date: 04 August 2016
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
This book provides sweeping treatment of a fascinating and challenging theme that might well provoke its readers into rethinking the intellectual foundations of Western modernity. --Stephen W. Angell, The Journal of the American Academy of Religion It is by far the most comprehensive history of Satanism available...Recommended. --CHOICE Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. Children of Lucifer successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --Reading Religion A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam It is by far the most comprehensive history of Satanism available...Recommended. --CHOICE Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. Children of Lucifer successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --Reading Religion A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. Children of Lucifer successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --Reading Religion A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam
A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam
Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. <em>Children of Lucifer</em> successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --<em>Reading Religion</em> A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of <em>The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity</em> Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. <em>Children of Lucifer</em> proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of <em>The</em> <em>Invention of Satanism</em> (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam
It is by far the most comprehensive history of Satanism available...Recommended. --CHOICE Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. Children of Lucifer successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --Reading Religion A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam Van Luijk's book is a welcome addition to the emerging field of studies of religious Satanism. Children of Lucifer successfully argues that rhetoric around the figure of Satan marginalizes political enemies and reflects social concerns-and modern religious Satanism is yet another example of this-as it promotes a radical marginality as an empowering identity. --Reading Religion A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam A tremendously important, meticulously researched and wittily written book, which will change the way we look on Satanism. -Per Faxneld, coauthor of The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity Contrary to popular news, Satanism is not just statues and coloring books. Through the dual mechanisms of attribution and identification, Ruben van Luijk's monumental work examines the history of modern Satanism from early modern Christian inventions to the appropriation and reinterpretation of contemporary satanic groups. This is first-rate scholarship with an impressive attention to detail and breadth of insight, which never fails to captivate the reader. Children of Lucifer proves that to understand the present we must understand history. -Jesper Aagaard Petersen, co-author of The Invention of Satanism (2015) If you want the real story of Satanism, then read this book. Extremely well documented and full of surprising twists and turns, it shows that history is much more exciting than the predictable standard products of the sensationalist imagination. -Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy, University of Amsterdam
Author Information
Ruben van Luijk was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Children of Lucifer is based on his research as a PhD student at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University and as a research fellow at Radboud University, Nijmegen. Van Luijk is also active as a photographer, novelist and artist.
