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Article: The Devil, You Say.(the wide use of the word 'devil' in popular language seems to indicate that the concept of the devil is not taken as seriously as it once was)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- November 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The popularity of the idea of the devil has waxed and waned through the ages. The Pilgrims, for instance, put an "X" on the lower part of doors to hex him. Indeed, the design is still around, but few know its symbolism. Three decades ago, "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby" brought the devil back into the limelight, but only for a while.
Fundamentalists, who remain firm believers in the fire and brimstone of Hell and Satan, excepted, many today reject the reality of the devil. Scholarly literature, such as the recent The Devil: A Biography, by Peter Stanford, claim that the satanic figure is an intellectual embarrassment to mainline Christianity, whether ...