I'm looking for a list of academic books and papers on Demonology,
including information on where/how to purchase books on the list. 
I've browsed through Amazon, and they seem to have very little in the
way of serious academic studies on the topic.  If it helps, I'm
located in Boston.  Thanks in advance for the help!

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 03 Jul 2004 22:06 PDT

It would be very helpful if we knew whether you're seeking books
written from a standpoint of belief in the actuality of demons, or
books which treat demons as fictitious creatures of myth and folklore,
or both kinds of books. Are you interested in books about demons from
any particular religious or cultural source? Most of the world's major
religions include demons in the pantheon of spiritual entities.

The more you can tell us about your precise needs, the better we'll be
able to help you.

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Clarification of Question by mntkby-ga on 04 Jul 2004 06:34 PDT

I'm interested in books that treat the subject of Demonology in the
most academic way--I'd imagine this would entail a neutral approach
regarding the existence of demons.  However, if there are books
written with a bias but that are highly regarded as academic works,
I'd be interested in those as well.  To give you an idea of my usage,
I need sources on demonology that can be used in a PhD level thesis. 
In addition, I'm most interested in demonology in Christianity and
Islam, although any well-respected academic work on the subject,
regardless of religion, would be useful.  I hope this helps--please
let me know if you need additional info.  Thanks again!

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 04 Jul 2004 08:43 PDT

Greetings Mntkby,
I've done a little looking around on the Web, and there are many lists
of books on demonology, though it can be a task to find out which
among there are the academic works of your requirement. A good deal of
the books in these lists are classic "how-to's" against demons/evil
spirits and dictionaries/encyclopedias of demonology. Would the latter
(dictionaries, et al) fit under your requirement as well?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 04 Jul 2004 08:49 PDT

Are these the type of references you're looking for:

http://historical.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/witch/docviewer?did=108
THE LITERATURE OF DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT
By Edward Peters, Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania

Click on the BROWSE button at the site to see the actual list of
documents, all of which are several centuries old.

Let me know if this is the sort of thing you need.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by mntkby-ga on 04 Jul 2004 16:00 PDT

To be honest, I'm not totally familiar with a dictionary on
Demonology, although I can imagine it would not be useful for my
purposes.  I'm looking for academic works that analyze/critique the
subject, expound on the topic with some semblance of organization and
planning.  If by dictionary/encyclopedia you mean a simple looking up
of something, and finding out a breif piece of info on it, then that
wouldn't help.  I'm trying to refine a doctoral thesis on a simiar
topic, and I need more in-depth info/analysis than an encyclopedia (in
the common sense) would offer.

As far as the second clarification--I reviewed the link you sent me,
and this is more of what I'm looking for.  However, I'm looking for
more than just witchcraft--it is only a subset of Demonology. 
However, this is getting at it.  Please let me know if I can be of
further help, and have a happy July 4th!

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 04 Jul 2004 19:49 PDT

I checked a databases of online PhD theses (all of which can be
previewed for free, and purchased for download) for [ demons or
withces ] and came up with:

The Devil and the domestic: Witchcraft, women's work and marriage in
early modern Scotland

The voice of evil: A narratological study of demonic characters in Old
English literature

Crafting the witch: Gendering magic in medieval and early modern
England (Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chretien de Troyes, France, Marie de
France, Layamon)

Resurrecting the repressed feminine: An ethnographic study and
analysis of a contemporary goddess spirituality practice employing the
feminist philosophical lens of Luce Irigaray

'Away with the fairies': Wise folk, healing, and the Otherworld in
Irish oral narrative and belief

All women are witches: Women's stories of re-awakening to their
ancestral memory and inherently spiritual nature

Practical magic: Alice Hoffman's suburban magic realism

'We three': The mythology of Shakespeare's Weird Sisters (
Paul's doctrine of God and the issue of food offered to idols in 1
Corinthians 8:1--11:1

Tracing cultural un/belonging: The witch in Western feminist theory and literature

The great witch dance: Superstition, revival and knowledge in Gagnef, 1858 
Falling to pieces, emerging whole: Suffering illness and healing
renunciation in the Dge slong ma Dpal mo tradition (Nepal, Tibet)

The Gerasene demoniac of Mark 5:1--20: A study of the dynamic
interaction of cultural and narrative contexts

==========


Are these the type of things you're after?

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by mntkby-ga on 04 Jul 2004 20:39 PDT

It seems that the parameteres I've set are too broad.  For this
question, let's focus on Judeo-Christian demons, not the study of
witchcraft.  When I talk about demons, I'm referrring to the demons in
the satanic sense--think about Lucifer's fall from Heaven.  Part of
the Judeo-Christian belief in Hell involves the demons that surround
Lucifer--fallen angels, anti-angels.  Any academic info on them, books
or papers, would be sufficient.  This has been more complicated than I
thought--thanks for your patience!

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 04 Jul 2004 20:47 PDT

Is this getting closer...?

http://www.bethel.edu/~rakrob/files/Newdim.htm

New Dimensions in the Study of Angels and Demons
Robert V. Rakestraw, Ph.D., Professor of Theology
Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Note the list of books and papers referenced at the end of the paper.

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Clarification of Question by mntkby-ga on 05 Jul 2004 15:06 PDT

This is exactly what I'm looking for--you've pegged the subject matter!

Hello again.

OK.  Now that we've zeroed in on what you're after, I think I can help you out.

I've included below a number of links to both documents on demonology
as well as comprehensive bibliographies on the topic.  They all are
solidly academic.

I believe these should fully meet your needs in terms of identifying
the relevant books and articles.  Actually obtaining them is another
matter, since the sources are very diverse.  However, any good
librarian should be able to assist you in obtaining the materials you
need.

If there's a particular item or two you would like me to help you
track down, just let me know.

Before rating this answer, please tell me if you need any additional
information, or if you have any questions about what I've provided
here.  Just let me know how I can help, and I'm at your service.

pafalafa-ga


==========


http://historical.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/witch/docviewer?did=108
THE LITERATURE OF DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT
By Edward Peters, Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania

[NOTE:  This is a clumsy site -- you have to click through the article
one page at a time to see the whole thing, but it looks worth the
effort -- the "next page" link is in the upper right hand part of the
page]



http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ScoDemo.html
Scott, Walter 
Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft 

[Classic 19th century scholarly work on the topic, conveniently available online]



http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1-79
Dictionary of the History of Ideas
DEMONOLOGY

[Very nice encyclopedia-style entry on the topic -- be sure to see the
bibliography at the end of the article]



http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/071030/0710308973.HTM
History of Witchcraft and Demonology
Montague Summers 

[This is blurb for a book for sale -- hard to say what sort of content
you'll find here, but it certainly seems to have very solid academic
credentials]





http://faculty.washington.edu/snoegel/demonsdemonologyexorcism.htm
Demons, Demonology, & Exorcism

[All I can say about this site is "Wow!".  This is the bibliography
you're looking for, with listings like:
Gammie, John G., "The Angeology and Demonology in the Septuagint of
the Book of Job".  None of it is hyperlinked, which means you'll have
a job tracking down the paper versions, but still...it's a great
list].



 
http://englishwww.humnet.ucla.edu/faculty/kelly/devil.htm
[Another good bibliography, with a solidy Christian bent, eg.:   The
Devil, Demonology, and Witchcraft: The Development of Christian
Beliefs in Evil Spirits. New York: Doubleday, l968]



Again, let me know if you need any additional information.


pafalafa-ga




search strategy:  Google search on: [demonology site:edu ]

This is a great answer!  You took time to clarify and understand the
details of my question, and provided a prompt and thorough answer--I
appreciate it.  Thanks again!

I would just like to comment on the above question.
Demons are in fact real but they arent as man has viewed them in
movies and in our imaginations.
The bible speaks of demons and their abilities as far as implanting
thoughts in our minds and trying to dupe us into thinking that the
thoughts are our own.
Jesus, said not to have an unhealthy interest in demons, and also not
to doubt their existance.  But maily focus on our salvation through
him. <><

I would recommend to the fella,looking to info on demons to turn his
interest to Christ.

From the Bible. Second Corinthians 11; 14,15.."Satan himself keeps
transforming himself into an ANGEL OF LIGHT, It is therefore nothing
great if his ministers [ demons] also keep transforming themselves
into ministers of righteousness". So we should not be misled  when
things done by spiritistic means seem to be of some, albeit temporary,
benefit. As to whether Satan and his demons are in any " Hell", the
Bible says He is HERE. Revelation 12; 9.

mntkby-ga,

Thanks for the very generous words, rating and tip.  I'm glad you hung
in on this one, as we worked out some of the details of what you
needed.

Visit us again soon!

pafalafa-ga

When i was younger I read a book that my aunt gave me called "The
Satan Seller". This book was so interesting that I read the whole book
top to bottom in a desperate search to see what happened next to this
guy. It was suppose to be a true story and the author also traveled
giving seminars discussing the book. I'm sorry I can't remember his
name but I will never forget the book.

Edward Capps
www.cymbaltechnique101

When i was younger I read a book that my aunt gave me called "The
Satan Seller". This book was so interesting that I read the whole book
top to bottom in a desperate search to see what happened next to this
guy. It was suppose to be a true story and the author also traveled
giving seminars discussing the book. I'm sorry I can't remember his
name but I will never forget the book.

Edward Capps
www.cymbaltechnique101.com