The Baal Book: A Biography of the Devil
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Ancient Near Eastern texts such as The Baal Cycle portray the pagan god Baal as a rebel—the hero of a revolution, worshiped and glorified for his long string of victories. In The Baal Book: A Biography of the Devil, Fr. Stephen De Young shows that the Hebrew Scriptures consciously turn the Baal story on its head, depicting him as a failed and defeated rebel who nonetheless tries to steal the glory that belongs to Almighty God. From these Scriptures, the figure of the Devil emerged within Jewish and Christian Tradition. Father De Young works through the Old and New Testament passages that refer to various Baal stories, and he surveys Baal worship through followers’ beliefs, religious practices, and liturgical life. In these pages, we will see that the figures of Baal and the Devil—the prince of demons—are one and the same.
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- Shows how Hebrew Scriptures subvert pagan myths to depict Baal as a defeated rebel
- Traces the emergence of the Devil within Jewish and Christian Tradition from scriptural figures
- Surveys the beliefs, religious practices, and liturgical life associated with ancient Baal worship
- Introduction: Out on Baal: What Should We Make of an Ancient Canaanite God?
- 1. Make Baal: Who Was Baal to His Worshipers?
- 2. Baal Out: How Was Baal Worshiped?
- 3. Hey, Baal: Where Is Baal in the Old Testament?
- 4. Baal Bonds: What Happens to Baal in the New Testament?
- Conclusion: Skip Baal: Why Is Baal Still Important?
- Subject Index