This is very interesting. I agree with much of what reed says, however
there are a couple examples of pop-angel lore that put a spin on the
idea of "spirits with purpose".
I am thinking specifically of Angels in America, where the angel is
portrayed as being powerful in the extreme but having no ability to
think creatively. "They're like omnipotent celestial bureaucrats" as the
main character describes them.
Also there was a movie called The Prophecy w/ Christopher Walkin as
Gabriel in which a second war in heaven is initiated by angels who want
to destroy manking because God gave them the one thing he denied
angels-- a soul
I have no idea where this is going, but it is a counterpoint none the
less.
-- Regards +--------------------------------------------------------+ Ken Pantheists http://www.lucifer.com/~kenpan +--------------------------------------------------------+