Description
Book SynopsisEach essay in this Companion examines one or more literary texts and a religious tradition to illustrate how we can understand both literature and religion better by looking at them in tandem. Unlike most literature and religion books, which tend to focus on Christianity and take a highly theoretical approach inappropriate for non-specialists, The Cambridge Companion to Literature and Religion offers an accessible treatment of both Dharmic and Abrahamic traditions. It provides close readings of texts rather than surveys of large topics, making it an ideal resource for undergraduate and graduate students of literature and religion.
Trade Review'The collection's rich diversity bespeaks the generative intercourse of religion and literature.' S. Gowler, CHOICE
'Literature and religion have a close relationship and have encouraged cross-disciplinary study over the years. This companion (one in a well-established series for the general and the academic reader) is a useful snapshot of current thinking. …The appeal to readers who like connecting religion and literature will be immediate. … for the general reader and believer, it is likely to stimulate and enrich their study of and reflections on their faith, and, of more value still, enhance their own religious practice.' Stuart Hannabuss, Women, Word, Spirit-Network Journal
'This is an outstanding volume: diverse but coherent, demanding but always clear. The individual essays are strong, but read as whole the book is even more powerful. It is required reading for any scholar working in the wide and complex field of literature and religion.' Andrew Tate, The Glass
Table of ContentsIntroduction Susan M. Felch; Part I. Reading Practices: 1. Theological reading Rowan Williams; 2. Confessional reading James Matthew Wilson; 3. Postsecular reading Zhange Ni; Part II. Intersections: 4. Ethics Susan M. Felch; 5. Dwelling Julia Reinhard Lupton; 6. Imagination Matthew Potts; 7. Sacrifice Michon M. Matthiesen; 8. Repetition Susannah Monta; Part III. Faith Traditions: 9. Hinduism Cleo Kearns; 10. Buddhism Richard K. Payne; 11. Judaism Susan Handelman; 12. Eastern Orthodoxy Lori Branch and Ioana Patuleanu; 13. Roman Catholicism Paul J. Contino; 14. Islam Mustansir Mir; 15. Protestantism Willie James Jennings; 16. World Christianity Susan VanZanten.
