Adolf Holl examines the life of the Holy Spirit in the context of the history of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Interweaving scholarship with religion, myth, and culture, Holl traces the influence of the Holy Spirit on men and women from all walks of life, over the course of centuries. Through Holl's discourse, we see how the Holy Spirit informs an incredible way of beliefs (including those underlying the rituals of Appalachian snake handlers) and ideas (the works of Freud and James Joyce are among the many discussed).