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verse . Therefore there is no need for a world that precedes this creative
activity, there is nothing that is coeternal with God. Men does not find
convincing the elaborate sophiology of Bulgakov or Solovyov, and therefore his
conception of a ‘World Soul’ is destined to be far more limited in scope.
Furthermore, in Isagogics and Bibliological Dictionary, where we see a closer
connection between demonic evil and ‘elementary’ evil, the idea of the World
Soul is not referred to. Perhaps the World Soul is a conception that becomes
increasingly redundant in Men’s later thought. In the late Q and A session The
Strugle and Polarisation of Good and Evil, Men tells us: ‘I think that in the
spiritual world there is no [neutral] nature. There everything has a personal
aspect. Therefore I think that the powers of evil are connected with a personal
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element’ . Although it might be debatable how closely an unprepared answer
might reflect Men’s views, on the basis of what is said here there is no room for
a neutral ‘World Soul’ in the manner of Solovyov’s conception. Rather there are
fallen angelic forces that precipitate a Cosmic Fall in the spiritual world.
In Appendix 8 Part 11 of Magicism and Monotheism, Men discusses in
some detail the different terms used to refer to chaos in the Old Testament.
The term ‘Teomot’ is used in a number of places. Of particular interest is its
use in Proverbs 8:24, where Wisdom tells us that she existed before chaos.
Another common term is the image of ‘the waters’, already present in Gen. 1:2,
a rebellious creation that refuses to submit to God. Other terms used include
the Leviathan of Job 41, Rahab, the snake of Genesis 3 and the abyss. Men
remarks that there is no suggestion that any of these creatures are eternal. In
Job 41, the Leviathan is a created being, albeit one of awesome power, and God
has only allowed it the possibility of disturbing the universe temporarily. In
Isaiah 27:1, the Leviathan will be defeated, as will the dragon in the sea. In
Isagogics, these creations – Leviathan, Rahab, the dragon etc. are identified as
one by Men. They are more explicitly connected with spiritual evil. Men tells
us ‘this being embodies in itself resistance to the divine will, which arose in the

25 Men: Six Days, (Shestodnev). “Шестоднев”, Радостная Весть [Вита-центр. Москва. 1992] (‘The
Six Days’, Good News. [Vita-Tsentr. Moscow. 1992]). Can be found at
http://www.alexandermen.ru/pan.html
26 Men: The Strugle and Polarisation of Good and Evil. “Борьба и Поляризация Добра и Зла”, Отец
Александр Мень отвечает на вопросы слушателей. [Фонд имени Александра Меня.
Москва. 1999 г.] (‘The Struggle between and Polarisation of Good and Evil’ in Father Alexander Men
answers questions fom the audience. [Alexander Men Foundation. Moscow. 1999]). Can be found at
http://www.alexandermen.ru/pan.html

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