Early Christian Demonology

Harvard HDS

This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of demonology in early Christianity. The course will begin with the sudden explosion of interest in demons in ancient Judaism in the 3rd c. BCE, the role of demons in the Christian New Testament, and their role in early Christian thought, especially in the writings of Origen of Alexandria (d. 185-253 CE). The course will then move into early monastic demonology and focus on such figures as Antony the Great, Athanasius, Evagrius…