Satanism Today - An Encyclopedia of Religion, Folklore and Popular ...

86 Expressions
bound, reacting with a combination of fear, revulsion,
and fascination. In the film’s wake, more than
a few people began claiming that they were
possessed. Despite the sensationalistic appeal of
the graphic content of the exorcism, the real core
of The Exorcist’s narrative is the crisis of faith of
the younger priest, who must regain his faith in
order to save the possessed girl. By the end of the
movie the Devil is thwarted and the power of the
Christian God reaffirmed.
Expressions
Western languages carry numerous expressions
bearing a diabolical reference of some sort. In
English, the word hell has even been regarded as
an item of profanity, though this has become less
the case in recent years. Familiar expressions along
this line are “Go to hell” and “To hell with you,”
which are commonly used to convey disagreement
and anger. “Oh hell” expresses frustration and
exasperation. Other infernal expressions are
harder to characterize.
“Playing Devil’s advocate” refers to taking up a
critical, oppositional perspective toward some
idea or proposal. “The highway to hell is paved
with good intentions” expresses the idea that good
intentions are not enough to guarantee a positive
outcome to a certain course of action. “War is
hell,” a remark attributed to General William T.
Sherman, is a straightforward judgment that war
is horrifyingly bad. Similarly, Vietnam war and
other veterans sometimes wear shirts or sport
bumper stickers asserting, “When I die I’m going
to heaven; I’ve spent my time in hell.”
In a more humorous vein, people sometimes
say that they are “having a devil (or a hell) of a
good time.” This expression alludes to the association
between pleasure and the diabolical. A similar
association is reflected in a variety of sayings
about “raising hell,” which imply that one is
having such a good time that hell is being raised
up from the underworld and manifesting on the
surface in a wild party.
See also Advertising; Humor
For Further Reading:
Baddeley, Gavin. Lucifer Rising: Sin, Devil Worship
and Rock’n’Roll. London: Plexus, 1999.
Scott, Miriam Van. Encyclopedia of Hell. New York:
Thomas Dunne Books, 1998.