Seven Heads, Ten Horns: The History of the Devil

Latest Episodes:

S 3 e 4: Pseudo-Dionysius Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

This episode we deal with our first incognito secret-agent pseudonymous theologian, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, the way he blends Christianity with Neoplatonism, and how this impacts his demonology.

Pseudo-Dionysius, The Complete Works

(Free online version.)

Marilena Vlad, “Dionysius the Areopagite on Angels: Self-Constitution vs. Constituting Gifts” in Neoplatonic Demons and Angels, ed. Luc Brisson

Kevin Corrigan and L. Michael Harrington, “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite” at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Christoph Helmig and Carlos Steel, “Proclus,” at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Colleen Hubbard’s new novel, Housebreaking, on sale now

S 3 ep 3: Boethius and the Consolation of Demonology Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

This episode, Boethius uses Neoplatonic philosophy to prepare himself for his impending execution and to help Klaus and Travis understand why Batman is so miserable.

Free online version of the Consolation of Philosophy

P.G. Walsh’s translation and introduction

James Marebon, “Boethius,” at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

S 3 Lit. Desk: Paradise Lost, House of Pain Edition Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Bonus episode musings on Milton's Paradise Lost Book 2, creeping back to the first text we ever worked on for the pod, rethinking everything.

Paradise Lost Book 2

S 3 ep 2: Neoplatonic Demonology & Texas Brisket Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

This episode is all about non-Christian, Greek-philosophical perspectives on demons and their role in the universe that were developing around the formative stages of Christian theology. Neoplatonism would go on to influence late-ancient and medieval Christianity and so we start to track its effects in this episode.

Neoplatonic Demons and Angels, ed. Luc Brisson

Plotinus, Enneads

Porphyry, On Abstinence from Animal Food, Bk. 2

“Iamblichus” by Riccardo Chiaradonna & Adrien Lecerf at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

“Plotinus” by Lloyd Gerson at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

“Porphyry” by Eyjólfur Emilsson at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

S 3 Interview: Passing Orders with S. Jonathon O'Donnell Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

An interview with author S. Jonathon O’Donnell about their new book, Passing Orders, in which we discuss spiritual warfare, the Christian Right, and the complicated roles of demons in the political theology of empire. Don’t miss it.

S. Jonathon O’Donnell, Twitter: @demonologian

Passing Orders: Demonology and Sovereignty in American Spiritual Warfare

**The idea mentioned in the episode that “people live in the contradictions” comes from this interview with Patrick Blanchfield on Know Your Enemy about Freud.**

S 3 Culture Desk: Batman vs Moby-Dick Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Moby-Dick's dramatic return to the pod as he battles the Cape[Cod]d Crusader.

Twitter for 1940s Batman vs. White Whale images: @klaus_yoder

Battle Ave's music.

Video for "My Year with the Wizard"

S 3 ep 1: John Chrysostom, Secret Star of Twin Peaks Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Back in the saddle for the official start of season 3.

Sources:

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis & Against the Jews (The Translation and Introduction by Paul W. Harkins whose name we neglected to mention.)

The Penance of Chrysostom by Giulio Campagnola

Ben Dunning, Chrysostom’s Serpent: Animality, Gender, and Creation

James H. Charlesworth, The Good And Evil Serpent: How a Universal Symbol Became Christianized

Pauline Allen and Wendy Mayer, John Chrysostom

S 3 Culture Desk: Station Eleven-th Heaven Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

Watching Station Eleven through goggles tinted as red as a cartoon devil.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaAG-SwEa7k

S 2 Bonus: Moby Dick! (pt. 2) Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Finishing up our coverage of Ahab's centipede-legged soul and mortal combat against the white weasel, ahem, whale (Chs. 133 & 134). With this we bid season 2 adieu and look forward to sharing season 3 with you real soon.

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The novel in html: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2701/2701-h/2701-h.htm#link2HCH0119

The novel as a cool 1902 edition on pdf: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Moby_Dick/d4VNAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

S 2 Bonus: Moby-Dick? Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

Massively unanticipated bonus pod on personified evil in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick inspired by a long drive across Pennsylvania.

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Moby-Dick as a cool podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moby-dick-or-the-whale/id384525495?i=1000085154762

As html: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2701/2701-h/2701-h.htm#link2HCH0041

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Some secondary sources:

Jonathon A Cook, Inscrutable Malice: Theodicy, Eschatology, and the Biblical Sources of “Moby-Dick.” Cornell University Press, 2012. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv177tfgd.

Leslie E. Sheldon, "Messianic power and satanic decay: Milton in Moby-Dick": muse.jhu.edu/article/495703.

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