Devils of Democracy by Michael E. Heyes

Devils of Democracy examines how beliefs about demons, evil, Satan, and spiritual warfare have influenced American political life from the Revolutionary era to the present. Michael E. Heyes traces this history through religious movements, apocalyptic fears, spiritualism, the Satanic Panic, conspiracy theories, and the rise of modern Christian nationalism. He argues that the language of demonic forces has repeatedly been used to portray political opponents and institutions as evil, shaping public fears and political behavior. The book ultimately explores how this long relationship between religion, demonization, and politics may be affecting American democracy today.