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| '''Theological fiction''' is fictional writing which shapes |
'''Theological fiction''' is fictional writing which shapes people's attitudes towards ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/theological-fiction|title=Theological-fiction|website=Goodreads|accessdate=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://oliverkamm.typepad.com/blog/2005/03/theological_nov.html|title=Theological Novels|last1=Kamm|first1=Oliver|website=Book Blogs|accessdate=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Chris |title=12 Fiction Books that will shape your Theology |url=https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/12-fiction-books-will-shape-your-theology/ |website=Relevant Magazine |accessdate=8 November 2019}}</ref> It is typically ''instructional'' or ''exploratory'' rather than descriptive,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Challies |first1=Tim |title=The Bestsellers: The Harbinger |url=https://www.challies.com/articles/the-bestsellers-the-harbinger/ |website=Challies Reviews |accessdate=8 November 2019}}</ref> and it engages specifically with the theoretical ideas which underly and shape typical responses to ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frykholm |first1=Amy |title=A novel at the edge of Faith |url=https://www.christiancentury.org/review/novel-edge-faith |website=The Christian Century |accessdate=8 November 2019}}</ref> Theological fiction, as a concept, is used by both ] and ], such as in fictional pantheons and cultures in theological fantasy literature.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hartman |first1=Rachel |title=Five Theological Fantasies for Ecstatic Atheists |url=https://www.tor.com/2015/03/09/five-theological-fantasies-for-ecstatic-atheists/ |accessdate=8 November 2019 |publisher=TOR.Com Science Fiction, Fantasy and the Universe |date=9 Mar 2015}}</ref> | ||
| ==Theological and religious fiction== | ==Theological and religious fiction== | ||
Revision as of 20:26, 25 February 2020
Theological fiction is fictional writing which shapes people's attitudes towards theological beliefs. It is typically instructional or exploratory rather than descriptive, and it engages specifically with the theoretical ideas which underly and shape typical responses to religion. Theological fiction, as a concept, is used by both theists and atheists, such as in fictional pantheons and cultures in theological fantasy literature.
Theological and religious fiction
The subject matter of theological novels often overlaps with philosophical novels, particularly when it deals with issues from natural theology (also called philosophy of religion). For example, Roger Olsen notes that the Problem of evil is a feature of some significant theological fiction.
Theological fiction also overlaps with religious fiction or Christian novels (also called inspirational fiction), especially when dealing with complex ideas such as redemption, salvation and predestination, which have a direct bearing on attitudes towards religious practices. Some authors try to distinguish a theological novel as one which denotes a more idea driven plot, rather than a novel which is about people who happen to be interacting with religion, but the distinction often proves difficult to sustain when ideas and actions are closely interwoven, each influencing the other.
Theological short stories
Examples of the genre (also called novellae) include:
- "Candide" (1759) by Voltaire
- "Book of Judith" (1st Century BC) by Anonymus
- "Divine Comedy" (1320) by Dante Alighieri
Theological novels
Examples of theological novels include:
- Silence (1966) by Shūsaku Endō
- The Brothers Karamazov (1880) by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Pilgrim's Progress (1678) by John Bunyan
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) by C. S. Lewis
- Theologus Autodidactus (originally The Treatise of Kāmil on the Prophet's Biography) (1268) by Ibn al-Nafis
- Philosophus Autodidactus (originally Hayy ibn Yaqdhan) (12th century) by Ibn Tufail
- The Shack (2007) by William P Young
Linked series of theological fiction
Individual stories can be linked in series to constitute a composite novel or a short story cycle, where a group of stories interact to convey a richer or fuller story than any of the single elements can.
Examples of linked series of theological fiction include:
See also
- Christian novel
- List of Christian novels
- List of Catholic authors
- Religious ideas in fantasy fiction
- Religious ideas in Science fiction
- Religious fiction
References
- "Theological-fiction". Goodreads. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Kamm, Oliver. "Theological Novels". Book Blogs. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Smith, Chris. "12 Fiction Books that will shape your Theology". Relevant Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Challies, Tim. "The Bestsellers: The Harbinger". Challies Reviews. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Frykholm, Amy. "A novel at the edge of Faith". The Christian Century. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Hartman, Rachel (9 Mar 2015). "Five Theological Fantasies for Ecstatic Atheists". TOR.Com Science Fiction, Fantasy and the Universe. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Olsen, Roger. "Some good novels that include theological themes". Evangelical Arminian Theological Musings. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Churchwell, Sarah (4 Oct 2008). "A man of sorrows". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Spinella, Frank. "The Value of Theological Fiction". Theology and Literature. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Keates, Jonathan (12 Dec 2017). "Spiritual home Integrity and multitudes in an unapologetically theological novel". The Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Harper, Baird (8 Sep 2017). "5 Essential Linked Story Collections That Are Better Than Novels". Literary Hub. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- "The Journey Series". Grace and Truth Books. Retrieved 10 November 2019.