The Prince of This World 1st Edition

As one who regularly teaches graduate courses on the influence of demonology upon both Christian theology and politics, I can report that Kotsko's work in this volume is outstanding. While Kotsko is unsparing in his depiction of the historical trends that have led Christians to cast God as a morally oppressive monster, his erudition in both the history of theology and contemporary continental philosophy allows him to read the various dilemmas around evil, oppressive governments, and justice that led theologians to such dubious moves with sensitivity and nuance. This book is going on my course lists immediately, and I am grateful for Kotsko's careful scholarship in constructing this genealogy. It will be of service, not only to theologians and historians of Christian thought, but also to political philosophers and others who wish to see how seemingly abstract theological characterizations impact configurations of power and cultural capital in Christendom, and perhaps beyond.

Very readable discussion of the Devil in the Old and New testament, as well as a review of important scholarly interpretations of the devil through the middle ages. Early Christians associated the devil (from the book of revelations) with Rome and especially Nero (Roman Emperor from 54-68). After Constantine, Christians got political power and were able to associate the devil with political enemies and weak groups such as heretics, Jews and women. It is a problem when those in power have an easy way of pointing out people as absolute evil. The result was blood libels and witch trials.The discussion of how theologians pushed the devil's break with God back to the very first instant was fascinating. Also learned that predestination (which I always associated with Calvinism) was pretty standard theology in the middle ages.The book does lean on the work of Karl Schmitt and Giorgio Agamben, but it is perfectly understandable and lively if you (like me) have no knowledge of those thinkers.

3 1/2 - 5 stars Solid scholarship combined with academic shibboleths such as making reference to Derrida on one page, and "the probable correct" meaning of Isaiah on another. Towards the end of the book, the author posits "alternative" Monotheisms drawing from Rabinical Judaism and Islam -- this begs the question, "Why Monotheism?"(Hint: Political Theology)The premise of the book is based on a musing of Nicholas of Cusa about "redeeming the devil," -- which will alienate some readers, who will balk at the idea being "too far out there." (Is it possible to explicate the modern world and not engage in error?) Those readers willing to suspend (dis)belief, however, are offered a whirlwind tour of Western Civilization (c.f. Matt 4:8ff) by way of literary device.

Do we know the devil? In The Prince of This World, a sharply conceptualized engagement with the problem of evil at the crossroads of theology and politics, Adam Kotsko suggests we don't. Exploring the figure of the Devil and the Demonic, the book works through Christian theology to demonstrate not only the continued political utility of the devil and demonization to modern political order, but how that utility is obscured. Kotsko's interdisciplinary approach and erudite engagement with contemporary debates surrounding the Christianity of Modernity within the fields of Religion, Political Theology, Critical Theory, and Black Studies makes this a must read for anyone in these fields and beyond.

My undergrad comparative religions professor recommended this book and it was just about perfect. My background in Christian history and theology is severely lacking and that made this book fairly challenging for me, but the end notes and bibliography helped me out immensely.

As someone who does not know much about the history of religious ideas or demonology, I found this book to be very clearly written and accessible. In very general terms, the book describes how over time Satan was banished from the realm of society and consigned to Hell, and God came to assume the characteristics of Satan, that is, the eternal tormentor of humankind. The book takes as its point of departure the theories of Karl Schmitt and Giorgio Agamben about the theological origin of modern political ideas and offers interesting insights into how theological ideas about sin and free will are woven into, for example, media narratives about police murders of unarmed black people.

Thanks

Adam Kotsko has written a text that has all the elements that would allow it to become a classic in the field. Kotsko is well known for his ability to present great swaths of literature and ideas within a presentation that shows none of the strains of lesser secondary readings. That is on display in this new book where he moves deftly from the literature of the ancient Hebrews through to Luther’s theology, all while deploying concepts from a number of contemporary theorists to bring together this material. The book deserves comparisons with paradigm shaping texts. There is simply no text that I know of which approaches the Christian theology of the devil in the way that Kotsko does. His expert use of concepts derived from Continental philosophy, especially Agamben, alongside of his considerable knowledge of the history of Christian thought, biblical exegesis, and literary criticism make this a unique book. And yet, despite this dizzying display of erudition, the reader is never overwhelmed with jargon or the vagaries of micro-debates in any of these fields. The central thrust of the book—that the theology of the devil persists in a secularized form through a variety of oppressive technologies that structure neoliberalism—is highly original and a very profound claim in the midst of a resurgence of lesser studies in political theology.