CO-SPONSORSHIP: Kierkegaard, Religion, and Culture Unit and Nineteenth Century Theology Unit

Religion and Literature in the Nineteenth Century 

The objective of this session is to explore how religious ideas connect with the broader world of literature in the nineteenth century. Recent works in nineteenth-century literary studies increasingly acknowledge the critical role of religion, but the analyses of literary works from this era often sideline specifically theological reflections. This session seeks to illuminate the intrinsic relationship between religion and literature in the nineteenth century, encouraging paper proposals that investigate this relationship from a theological perspective. The works of nineteenth century authors grappled with themes such as the divine; the infinite versus the finite; ethical living; the problem of evil and other paradoxes inherent in Christian beliefs; the nature of faith; the role of imagination for spiritual understanding; and the nature of religious experience.

We invite papers that explore these and other themes in fresh ways and thereby contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between religion, theology, and literature. Papers might engage various literary, religious, and theological authors in the nineteenth century, such as L. Tieck, W. Blake, F. Dostoevsky, G. MacDonald, and others, including authors from the global South. Papers on S. Kierkegaard and literature are particularly welcome.