Some might think of angels as our human pathway to the monotheistic God of our Western culture--a God who remains abstract and remote. All major cultures and religions, however, have intricately developed angel systems. Guiley covers all--comparing angels to analogous beings in non-western cultures in order to trace their evolution. The book is arranged alphabetically by topic, so readers can look up subjects such as angel hierarchy, individual angels, Judaic angelology, the supernatural manifestations of the Virgin Mary, and even--God forbid--sex with demons.
The Encyclopedia of Angels is thoroughly researched and pleasantly illustrated with photographs of sculpture and reproductions of some of the great medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary works of "angel" art. Believers and skeptics alike will treasure this encyclopedia of information on a luminous and mysterious subject!