Between Religion and Literature: Meaning, Vulnerability and Human Existence

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course considers the meaning of the word: made flesh, made text, and made literary and theological tradition. In conversation with Augustine, Aquinas, Dante, Shakespeare, and Toni Morrison, we will ask questions such as: "How does genre inform our notions of truth?"; "What is the relationship between tragedy and comedy in theological reflection?"; "How does human suffering and evil shape how we speak of God?" Such questions will be addressed, in particular, by reflecting on how the texts studied invite us to think about human finitude, failure, and forgiveness. To enrich our discussions, throughout the semester we will also actively engage beyond the classroom in the local area and region, typically this includes attending a play at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, and a day trip to the University of Cambridge.