Book review: Deconstructing Lucifer
by David W. Lowe
★★★★★
Lucifer. The mere mention of his name sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it? Who is this evil angel of light, this beautiful but disobedient “son of God” who fell from glory?
He’s not who you think. First, David Lowe digs up the origin of the proper name Lucifer. He gives a solid argument for rejecting the idea that Isaiah 14:12-15 (the Lucifer passage) refers to Satan. He provides a hilarious discussion of the absurdity of thinking Ezekiel chapter 28 alludes to Satan as the “anointed cherub.” He leads us on an interesting quest to find the earliest references to the idea that Satan is a primordial fallen angel. It turns out to be post-Biblical; the Catholic Church screwed up this time. Then, he reconstructs Satan from Biblical passages (and a little help from the Book of the Watchers in 1 Enoch—Lowe feels that Jude’s reference to this ancient book in verses 14-15 lends it authority) to determine who the old snake really is.
So what do you think? If Satan is not Lucifer, the fallen angel, then who the devil is he? I’m not going to steal Lowe’s thunder, but I will give you a couple hints:
1. Lowe is a conservative Christian who appears to embrace the inerrancy of Scripture. His argument for Satan’s identity and role derives completely from the Bible.
2. You can ignore all those recent books I’ve been reviewing about the Problem of Evil. Oh, it’s still a problem alright, but not the way you thought.
So how do I rate the book? There are a few problems. One is that I’m hardly conservative, so the whole exercise was more academic than meaningful to me. Second, I found the ending a little anticlimactic after the buildup. Finally, I felt more than a little annoyed at Lowe’s digs at the Catholic Church as a tool of the Devil. Yet I so enjoyed the first 130 pages that I decided to stick with a five-star rating. Lowe has done his homework.
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Side note: While hardly the in-depth analysis that Lowe provides, and while we differ in opinion on some minor details, this short three-part series posted last October might whet your appetite on the topic before moving on to Lowe’s book:
http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2012/10/isaiah-1412-the-origin-of-lucifer-part-i-of-iii.html
http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2012/10/2-corinthians-1114-the-origin-of-lucifer-part-ii-of-iii.html
http://www.dubiousdisciple.com/2012/10/isaiah-143-5-the-origin-of-lucifer-part-iii-of-iii.html
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Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
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| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
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About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
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About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
Dubious Disciple,
Thank you for a very fair review of Deconstructing Lucifer. I am glad you enjoyed the book and look forward to any questions or comments from your subscribers.
Best regards,
David Lowe
You’re quite welcome, David, thank you for sharing your work!