Playful Wisdom - Reimagining the Sacred in American Literature, From Walden to Gilead

This book examines play and religion in American literature, exploring a unique kind of modern piety that arises not based on fixed doctrines or ecclesiastical structures, but on a light-handed responsiveness of spirit that constantly adapts to new perspectives and revises fixed assumptions in the light of new experiences.

List of contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: This is Play
Chapter 1. Play and Attunement: The Spirituality of Walden
Chapter 2. Play and Possibility: Emily Dickinson's Theology of Perhaps
Chapter 3. Play and Improvisation: Jack Kerouac's Singing Theology
Chapter 4. Play and Nonsense: Thomas Merton's Last Poem
Chapter 5. Play and Risk: Annie Dillard's Daredevil Faith
Chapter 6. Play and Understanding: Marilynne Robinson's Religious Hermeneutics
Bibiliography
About the Author

About the author

By Robert Leigh Davis

Product details

• Authors: Robert Leigh Davis
• Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2020
• EAN: 9781793626288
• ISBN: 978-1-79362-628-8
• No. of pages: 252
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; USA, LITERARY CRITICISM / American / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Religion, Religion & beliefs, Literature: history & criticism, United States of America, USA