Angels

Nationality/Culture

Various

Alternate Names

Cherubim, Seraphim, Malaaikah

Appears In

The Holy Bible, the Qur'an

Lineage

None

Character Overview

In many of the world's religions, angels are spiritual beings who act as intermediaries, or mediators, between God and humans. As messengers of God, angels may serve any number of purposes. Their role may be to teach, command, or inform individuals of their destiny, or future path in life. Angels may also act to protect or help people.

The word “angel” comes from the Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger.” In Western religions, the word specifically describes a benevolent, or kind and helpful, being. However, in most other religions, the line separating “good” angels from “bad” angels is not always clear. An angel may act benevolently in one situation but with evil intent in another.

The Nature of Angels The world's religions hold different views about the nature of angels. Some regard angels as divine beings who deserve to be worshiped rather than just treated as messengers of God. Disagreement also exists about the bodies of angels. Some think that angels have physical bodies. Others insist that angels only appear to have such bodies. Still others believe that angels are purely spiritual beings who have the ability to assume material (touchable) bodies.

Zoroastrianism and Judaism The view of angels in Judaism was influenced by Zoroastrianism, a faith founded by the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster. Zoroastrian mythology describes a fight between Ahura Mazda (pronounced ah-HOO-ruh MAHZ-duh) and Ahriman (pronounced AH-ri-muhn), which are forces of good and evil with armies of angels and devils. Like Ahura Mazda, the Old Testament god Yahweh (pronounced YAH-way) has an army of angels. These warrior angels battle against evil forces led by Satan , who resembles Ahriman.

Following the Zoroastrian view, Judaism divides the universe into three parts: earth, heaven , and hell. Earth is the home of humans. Heaven is reserved for God and his angels. Hell is the dark world of Satan and his followers. Angels fulfill a similar role in the two religions, linking heaven with the world of humans and revealing God's plans and laws to humans. Their function is to serve God and carry out his will. They reward goodness and punish wickedness and injustice. They also help people understand God's will and take the souls of righteous individuals to heaven.

Christianity The Christian concept of a three-part universe came from Judaic and Zoroastrian ideas, as did Christian ideas of angels and their functions. In the Christian view, angels are God's messengers. Angels proclaimed the birth of Christ and continue to play an active role in the daily lives of Christians. They bring strength to those who are weak and comfort to those who suffer and carry the prayers of faithful Christians to God. According to legend, guardian angels watch over children.

Islam The Islamic idea of angels is similar to Judaic and Christian views. God is in heaven, and the angels serve him and carry out his will; however, while Judaism and Christianity generally divide spiritual beings into those who are with or against God, Islam divides such beings into angels, demons, and djinni (pronounced JIN-ee), spiritual beings or génies. The djinni may be either good or harmful. According to Islamic folklore, they were created out of fire , can be visible or invisible, and can assume various human or animal shapes.

Hierarchies of Angels Angels in different orders, or levels, were a part of the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia, a region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers located in present-day Iraq. Later, in the fifth century CE, an anonymous Christian theologian known as Pseudo-Dionysius (pronounced SOO-doh dye-o-NIH-shus) the Areopagite (pronounced ar-ee-OP-uh-jyte) described a hierarchy, or ranked order of importance, for angels. Based on his writings, angels are traditionally ranked in nine orders. The highest order of angels is the seraphim, followed by the cherubim, thrones, dominions (or dominations), virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels.

According to Pseudo-Dionysius's hierarchy, the first circle of angels (the seraphim, cherubim, and thrones) devote their time to thinking about God. The second circle (the dominions, virtues, and powers) rule the universe. The third circle (principalities, archangels, and angels) carry out the orders of the superior angels.

Fallen Angels

Fallen angels were angels who had once been close to God but “fell” to a lower position. They tried to interfere with the relationship between human beings and God by encouraging individuals to sin. Fallen angels were also believed to cause such disasters as famine, disease, war, and earthquakes.

In Christian belief, the leader of the fallen angels is Lucifer, also known as Satan. He led a rebellion against God, for which he and the other fallen angels were cast into hell.

Angels in Context

Over the centuries, people have described the function of angels in various ways. The role of angels is developed in greatest detail in religions based on revelation, the communication of divine truth or divine will to human beings. These religions include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as Zoroastrianism.

In religions based on revelation, like Christianity, God and humans are distant from each other. Angels serve the purpose of bridging the gap between them. Angels praise God, carry out God's will, and reveal divine word. They may also help people attain salvation or receive special favors. Furthermore, acting for God, angels may influence human affairs through such deeds as rewarding faithful believers, punishing people who do evil, and helping people in need.

Angels tend to play a lesser role in polytheistic religions, or religions that feature many gods, such as the ancient Greek pantheon. The gods themselves may carry out angelic functions, often taking human forms. In religions based on the belief that all things are sacred and that the divine and the human share one essence, angels are less important. They are not needed to bridge a gap between the gods and humankind. However, even in these religions, angel-like spiritual beings may help people relate to the divine.

Key Themes and Symbols

At first, artists struggled with the problem of how to represent angels. Written descriptions were not very helpful. Artists tried various approaches before arriving at the image of a young male figure. Later they added two feathery wings to the figure's upper back. The wings suggested that angels were spiritual beings elevated above humans and associated with heaven. Besides wings, angels were sometimes portrayed with halos, long hair, and flowing white robes.

Over time, artists came to depict the different orders of angels in distinct ways. For instance, seraphim sometimes were shown with six wings and holding shields. Around the seraphim, flames burned to symbolize their devotion to God. Artists often portrayed the dominions bearing swords and spears as symbols of God's power.

Angels in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life

Since a large percentage of European art during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance depicted scenes from the Bible, angels appeared in many paintings of the period. Some of the most famous depictions of angels are found in Fra Angelico's Annunciation (c. 1440) and Sistine Madonna by Raphael (c. 1512). Angels often appeared as decorative sculptures on church exteriors as well.

The contemporary arts contain many depictions of angels. C. S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet (1938) was the first in a trilogy of books that took numerous Christian figures, including Eve, Satan, and angels, and re-imagined them in a science fiction setting. Films that portray angels include the Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Angels in the Outfield (1951 and 1994), and the 1998 film City of Angels, which starred Nicolas Cage as an angel named Seth.

Several television shows have also featured angels as main characters. Examples include Highway to Heaven (1984-1989) starring Michael Landon and Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).

Read, Write, Think, Discuss

According to a 2006 poll by the Associated Press, more than half of Americans surveyed said they believe in angels. How do you think this affects the portrayal of angels in popular media such as films, art, and television?

SEE ALSO Ahriman; Ahura Mazda; Persian Mythology; Semitic Mythology