Abstract

This anthology of previously published essays brings together some of the best scholars in the growing dialogue between two manifestations of man's existence, the literary and the religious. This is not simply a discussion of how theologians influenced literature, or how literature influenced theology, but treats the variety of approaches to the relationship as well as the impact of each manifestation upon the other. Attention is given to the humanizing function of both in a period when humanizing, even among the educated, is long overdue. Special attention is given to the various and ambiguous ways in which literature and religion deal with man's ultimate perplexities. That they do is clear, but how they differ in doing so is far from clear. Hence one notes the religious character of the literary creative process, the development of literary models of theological criticism, the revelatory function of poetry, and the evaluative function of literature. Insight is offered the philosopher regarding literature as the extension of conviction, the logic of literary expression, and the development of a logic of the possible. The growing dialogue between religion and literature evidenced in this volume as already quite mature leads to regret that one might seek in vain for comparable maturity in the parallel dialogue between literature and philosophy.--H. A. D.