Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan's Realm [Paperback]

Bernard J. Bamberger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Fantastic myths about the angels who were lured to sin and the proud angel who rebelled against God and was cast down as Satan. The problem of evil has challenged mankind ever since the dawn of intelligence. Why is there evil in the world and why do pain and suffering come upon those who do not seem to deserve it? Written in a simple, popular style, Bamberger’s book, first published in 1952, will appeal to anyone who, no matter what his own answer to the question may be, is curious to learn how it has been answered in the past or is being answered by others in our own age. The author traces the history of the belief in fallen angels in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and assembles a variety of tales and superstitions— some grotesque, others quaint and humorous. His presentation also reveals a basic divergence between Judaism and Christianity in their respective attitudes toward the devil. The concluding chapter of the work deals with the return of the devil to prominence in contemporary religious thought and shows how Judaism seeks its own solution to the problem of evil. The book contains an extensive bibliography, notes, and index.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compelling and interesting collection of scripture based and Talmudic lore . . . deftly brings readers through some of the most engaging tales. . . . Fallen Angels is very highly recommended reading, especially for students of the Abrahamic religions, including those searching for a more knowledgeable approach to Jewish traditions and teachings particularly, but to the Muslim and Christian faiths as well."—Midwest Book Review

(Midwest Book Review )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827607970
• ISBN-13: 978-0827607972
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History of the Dark Side, January 6, 2008

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Dov - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan's Realm (Paperback)

Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan's Realm

by Bernard J. Bamberger

An enjoyable account of the origins and evolution of the concept of fallen angels in Jewish and Christian world views for a general audience. Bamberger starts with a brief introductory discussion of those few passages from the Tanakh (Old Testament) which are often referenced in later writings on Satan or fallen angels. But the book really gets started with those writings that Bamberger calls the "outside books." That is the books outside the canonical tradition-the Enoch writings, the Adam books, and various testaments and apocalypses. Bamberger then discusses the separate and distinct traditions that developed in Judaism and Christianity from the periods of the Talmud and the New Testament through the middle ages to contemporary theology. Contemporary, that is to the late 1940s when this book was written. Throughout the book, Bamberger is especially interested in contrasting the dualistic views of some of the outside books, the Zohar, and Christian theology which saw the Cosmos divided between warring camps of good and evil with the traditional Jewish view that sees Satan as an agent of an unopposed and unopposable God. It's unfortunate that Bamberger did not have access to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The extreme dualism of the Dead Sea Sect would have been an interesting addition to this study. I did find this book to be good preparation for approaching the duelist teachings of the Dead Sea Sect. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this book is the contrast between Jewish and Christian approaches to similar concepts. I have often heard people speak of the Judeo-Christian concept of Satan. This book makes clear that there is no such thing. If you're interested in the dark side of Jewish and Christian mythology, this is a book you will want to read.