book update.

[sophiaserpentia]

Reading and recent book purchases include:

Currently re-reading: The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels. This book tracks the historical development of the concept of Satan as a manifestation of social conflict. She begins by exploring the development of Satan first as an angel appointed to perform unsavory tasks at God's command, then later as a figure that sows discord among the people of Israel. As a radical fringe began to develop after the Maccabean revolt, Satan became seen first as God's adversary, then as a sinister force ruling the world and appointing corrupt leaders to rule over people. The figure of Satan as adopted by the early Christians is a direct descendant of Semihazah and Mastema as viewed by the Essenes and other Jewish radicals. [And also, though Pagels is not explicit about it here, Yaldabaoth as viewed by some of the Gnostics.]

Recent purchases: The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmore

also, Wholeness and the Implicate Order by David Bohm (which I purchased at the instigation of anosognosia, after comments in a recent discussion)

Comments

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I finally got to see her page today. (I've been largely absent from the internet, hence replies to week-old comments and so forth...) It looks like she does good work, that largely parallels the direction I've been heading in.