Regardless of the truth of his actual existence, the idea of the Devil has been an essential part of Christian religion since its inception and thus, a major influence on the Western Culture. As a symbol of theological (and ethical, and existential) paradox, it has few rivals in modern philosophy: both the ultimate enemy and the most faithful and selfless servant. And this idea, in turn, gave rise to many other political and philosophical phenomena: the demonization of non-believers being one of the most important and far-reaching ones, with echoes even in the modern secular political discourse. This engaging overview of all things related to the Devil: demonology, folk-belief and church doctrine, theology and anthropology, and the social impact of belief is truly a biography of the idea, and one of the first times such a broad swathe of information has been gathered under one cover. Well illustrated and annotated and drawing on a wide variety of primary sources, it is of interest to both theologians and historians. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)