The Archangel Michael Beyond Orthodoxies

This open access book explores the various manifestations of the Archangel Michael in history, politics and popular culture. The Archangel Michael is probably the most venerated intermediate being of the belief systems of all Abrahamic religions. Inside the various Christian traditions, he has assumed various roles that go far beyond the traditional characteristics defined in his major cult centres in Byzantium, Italy, France, Egypt or Ethiopia. Besides being the divine messenger par excellence, he has often accompanied processes of Christianization; he has taken up ancient cults; he has been linked with magic and ritual power; he has guided religious and secular leaders in their exploits; he has been branded in order to market his blessings and protections. The history of these limitless boundaries is redefined in unorthodox manners by Christians of Adventist beliefs; by politicians using religious apocalypse in their rhetoric; by New Age leaders combining such tendencies in highly innovative and individualistic manners. The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the University of Bergen.