Have you ever read a novel and found that it has enriched you spiritually? Made you think more about who God is? Or pointed you to the Kingdom of God in unexpected places? In this reflective session, Paula Hollingsworth will explore how novels – even those not explicitly religious – can enrich our spiritual lives. While much is written about spiritual themes in poetry, spiritual themes in novels are often overlooked.
The afternoon will begin with a discussion on some of the things to look for in novels that might help us to reflect on them spiritually. Participants will then be invited to share the novels they have found spiritually enriching, and the session will close with small group discussions on the novel Plainsong by Kent Haruf (published in 1999 by Picador) – participants are asked to read this novel ahead of the session.
The Revd Paula Hollingsworth is the Chaplain at St Paul’s Cathedral and author of The Spirituality of Jane Austen.