Gods of this World: A Philosophical Discussion and Defense of Christian Demonology

by Shandon L. Guthrie

Philosophers of religion have focused almost exclusively on the existence and nature of God and the nature and destiny of human beings. But these philosophers have been remiss in engaging discussions about the possibility of there being adverse gods of this world (demonic beings) despite being a doctrine that comprises a significant part of the Christian confession. This drought in the literature has left a number of questions unaddressed, Hasn't science buried the demonic? Are there any successful philosophical arguments for the existence of Satan? What kind of being is Satan? Is he the fallen angel of lore? Is it reasonable for Christians to say that demons are purely immaterial spirits? Can demons causally interact with the physical world and its inhabitants? Can demons perform diabolical miracles? Shandon Guthrie broaches new territory beginning with a rigorous defense for the existence of Satan and his cohorts. He then advances and defends a model for how to understand their nature in terms of their ontology and causal powers. No other book has attempted a full-fledged natural diabology on behalf of Christian orthodoxy. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the dark side of Christian theology and metaphysics. "A large part of the world population believes in demons, angels, ghosts, and other supernatural forces, and yet very few philosophers have dared to develop a serious account of such beings. Guthrie's Gods of this World is a brilliant, unique work offering a serious philosophical account of the demonic with analytical skill and excellent research." --Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College Shandon L. Guthrie (PhD, Manchester Metropolitan University) is a visiting lecturer of philosophy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Guthrie lectures and speaks around the country at venues including colleges, universities, and churches. He has also been a guest on a number of local and national radio shows and podcasts on a variety of topics involving philosophy and apologetics. He and his wife Michelle both live in Las Vegas, Nevada, with their three children.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2019

Reviews

[Blake Reas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guthrie’s book is good, his section on Genesis 6:1-4 leaves a little to be desired and is the Achilles heal of his hypothesis that demons cannot directly effect the physical world, and lack any type of psychokinesis.