Jeffrey C. Pugh is the Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University in Elon, NC. He is the author of several books including his latest, Devil’s Ink: Blog from the Basement Office.
Despite allegations that I am his illegitimate son stemming from a torrid love-affair with Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio (a vicious rumor I started in an interview with The Pendulum a few years ago ), Pugh is not, to set the record straight, my father (the rest I can neither confirm nor deny). However, when it comes to writing authoritative books on Satan he is the daddy of us all. It is, therefore, time for Five Questions with Jeffrey C. Pugh.
1) If you could choose one dead theologian to resurrect in order to pistol whip who would it be: Arius, Martin Luther, or Jerry Falwell?
First of all, I wouldn’t pistol whip anyone because I am a pacifist. Second, Jerry Falwell is not and was never a theologian. That leaves Arius and Luther, which, is tough. They both had their good points and their bad points. But, I’m going with Arius simply because he was so freaking stubborn. I am sure something could have been worked out, but, no, so Christianity devolves into a matter of creeds and ossified doctrine, rather than a revolutionary orientation to grace.
2) Why should people read your new book, Devil’s Ink: Blog from the Basement Office?
Screwtape needed an update. There, I said it. I await the ire of all C.S. Lewis fans.
3) Who do you think is, currently, the most likely candidate for demonic possession?
Glenn Beck, hand’s down. After that, it’s a tie between all the members of congress (because anyone who seeks political power is not in their right mind and must be possessed by alien life).
4) Have you gotten over that whole panentheism phase you were going through, yet?
Inasmuch as metaphysics is still inescapable, though it adds nothing to faith, I am no more over my panentheism “phase” as I am over my Christian “phase.” Having said that, however, I still sense that the deus absconditus/deus revelatus is going to be a transcendental horizon I cannot go beyond in this life. So, I’m taking my chances with “Jesus loves me, this I know…”
5) Who would you rather have on your side in a bar fight: Andrea Dworkin or L.D. Russell?
Dworkin, hands down. I’ve seen Russell without his shirt on and he’s just not that tough.
"No, of course I have not read all of these books . . . but I have touched all of them."