Friday essay: Satan is back (again) - the Devil in 5 dark details
The Conversation
16 Jul 2021, 06:39 GMT+10
His title is the Devil, but he goes by a number of names - Satan, Lucifer, Beliar, Beelzebul or Beelzebub.
He was big in 1970s pop culture (The Exorcist, The Devils) and continues to feature on screen today. A sixth season of the TV show Lucifer is in production and new film The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It is showing in cinemas.
Conservative Christianity has a long commitment to the idea of a personal devil. Our Pentecostal Prime Minister Scott Morrison believes the misuse of social media is the work of the Devil. Pope Francis, meanwhile, maintains Satan still exists.