Tag Archives: theology and literature

“The Personal Heresy” and C.S. Lewis’ Autoethnographic Instinct: An Invitation to Intimacy in Literature and Theology

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

Canada’s annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (Congress2021) is now winding down. I missed being live on the ground, stumbling with weary feet and droopy eyes from one brilliant intellectual session to another, discovering great local craft brewpubs … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research | Tagged An Experiment in Criticism, Autobiography, autoethnography, C.S. Lewis, Congress2021, De Descriptione Temporum, Heather Walton, Literary Theory, new criticism, Surprised by Joy, The Personal Heresy, theology and literature | 2 Comments

“The Personal Heresy” and C.S. Lewis’ Autoethnographic Instinct: An Invitation to Intimacy in Literature and Theology (Congress2021 Paper)

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

As I noted yesterday, this week is Canada’s annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Congress2021. In the same morning, I am presenting twice, at two different societies–at the Canadian-American Theological Association with a paper on C.S. Lewis’ spiritual theology, … Continue reading →

Experimenting on Students: A Thought about Playfulness and Personal Connection in Teaching

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

I recently recorded a couple of lectures in my role as “Distinguished Lecturer in Romantic Theology” in the innovative Doctor in Theology and Ministry at Northwind Seminary. A heady title! I wanted to take the role seriously and do something … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, lion the witch and the wardrobe, Narnia, online teaching, Ransom Cycle, spiritual theology, Teaching, theology and literature, Theology of Culture, Theology of the Small, Till We Have Faces | 7 Comments

“Small” and “Little”, a Literary Experiment on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit with Sparrow Alden

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on words that you were saying:
Finally! Thanks to the Rev. Dr. Dickieson over at A Pilgrim in Narnia, I have gotten un-stuck from the word which has held me in thrall since October. I hope this is…

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Digital Humanities, J.R.R. Tolkien, Northwind Seminary, Sparrow Alden, The Hobbit, theology, theology and literature, Theology of Culture | 6 Comments

Crystal Downing, Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers (Book Launch, Friday Feature)

Posted on December 4, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

I am pleased to share the video of the Book Launch for Crystal Downing’s new book, Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers. Famous detective club novelist, strident correspondent, generation-leading scriptwriter, essayist, lecturer, and controversialist, and the producer … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, News & Links | Tagged Crystal Downing, D.L. Sayers, Dante, david downing, Dorothy L. Sayers, feminism, Literary Theory, Marion E. Wade Center, Mind of the Maker, Postmodernism, The Divine Comedy, The Man Born to be King, theology and literature, Theology of Culture | 13 Comments

A Canticle for Leibowitz: A 10 Minute Book Talk with Brenton Dickieson

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

Walter Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz is a philosophically rich and intricately gorgeous book. What makes this philosophical SciFi novel so compelling is an endearing slate of characters. I wish I could read a whole other book about Brother Francis, … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 Minute Book Talk, Reviews | Tagged A Canticle for Leibowitz, philosophical novel, Roman Catholicism, Science Fiction, SciFi, speculative fiction, theological novel, theology and literature, Walter Miller | 8 Comments

Qu4rtets: Makoto Fujimura and a A Response to T.S. Eliot in Word, Image, and Sound (Friday Feature)

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

I am reading Makoto Fujimura’s intricate, personal, and intelligent 2016 book, Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering. This book weaves Fujimura’s particular approach to Nigonga painting, “slow art” as he calls it, with Shūsaku Endō stunning novel, Silence, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday | Tagged art, Bruce Herman, Christopher Theofanidis, Japan, Jeremy Begbie, Makoto Fujimura, Shūsaku Endō, Silence, T.S. Eliot, theology and art, theology and literature | 1 Comment

Sallie McFague, Theologian (1933-2019)

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Brenton Dickieson

I just received a note from a friend that Sallie McFague has passed away. I got the news as I was rereading her Speaking in Parables: A Study in Metaphor and Theology (1975) after many years. The news saddened me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Daniel Boyarin, environmentalism, feminism, Laing Lectures, Lloyd Gaston, Malcolm Guite, Margaret Visser, Metaphorical Theology, Models of God, Regent College, Speaking in Parables, Stanley Hauerwas, The Discarded Image, theology and literature, Vancouver School of Theology | 1 Comment

C.S. Lewis’s “To love at all is to be vulnerable” Infographic by Gavin Aung Than

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Brenton Dickieson

I am having an open class on “C.S. Lewis, Gender, and The Four Loves” tonight (you are welcome to join, but must sign up here). In returning to the text, I was reminded by a student of a cartoon infographic … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Gavin Aung Than, The Four Loves, The Great Divorce, The Misquotable C.S. Lewis, theology and literature, Theology of Literature, theology of love, William O'Flaherty | Leave a comment

I Passed my Viva!

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Brenton Dickieson

I am very pleased to announce that I have successfully defended my PhD at the University of Chester! The viva voce was strong, with critical feedback and some verbal sparring. Overall, though, it was a great experience, with some levity … Continue reading →