Literature Through the Eyes of Faith: Christian College Coalition Series – A Literary Study That Opens Beauty, Truth, and Understanding

by Susan VanZanten Gallagher, Roger Lundin

This comprehensive study, cosponsored by the Christian College Coalition, addresses questions faced by students in introductory literature courses. It examines literature as a form of human action and argues that the reading and writing of literary works provide vital ways for men and women to act as responsible agents in God's world. Building upon the doctrine of Creation, the authors show how the reading of literature helps us to be more effective interpreters of the stories and images we encounter daily. They demonstrate that great works of literature open up a realm of beauty and truth and help us gain an understanding of ourselves, God, and the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Literature, Reference, Literary Criticism

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 1989

Reviews

[Liz Wann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do we as Christians really need to read non-Christian literature? Can't we just stick to the Bible and maybe a few Christian books? Wouldn't it be better for us? Rather than to pollute ourselves with stories about adultery, witchcraft, and treachery?

Well if you say yes to that last question then you might as well burn the Bible along with all those filthy worldly fictional stories. The Bible is littered with some of the grimiest stories; stories that would have Stephen King beat. A pulp fiction novel would have to compete against the types of gritty stories found in the Old Testament.


So, we can see the logic of a Christian sheltering himself from non-Christian fiction doesn't add up. But what's the point anyway? Well, we as Christians believe we have meaning in life. Guess what? Much of classical and modern literature explores meaning and purpose in life. So, we have common ground in this arena. In Literature Through the Eyes of Faith: Christian College Coalition Series, by Susan V. Gallagher and Roger Lundin, they purport this concept:

"As a result, although some things are obviously of greater importance than others, everything in our experience has significance, and our attempt to discern that significance -- as well as we can -- is part of our calling as God's servants."

Literature can proclaim truth. Yes, God's Word is the ultimate truth that we use to evaluate everything in this world. But if we have a good understanding of His Word it'll be easier for us to discern what is truth and what is not in works of literature. How can literature show truth? Through characters, actions, dialogue, and story. We can also see truth in the beauty of well-written verse and craftsmanship, which points to the beauty of the creator craftsman and wordsmith. We can better understand ourselves, others, and our world when we read literature.

"The fact is that we never get away from stories. In and out of literature, stories tell us who are and what we might become." -- Gallagher and Lundin


This is why we read literature; even when the work is not written by a Christian author or doesn't contain a direct Christian message. Sometimes it's good to not try to look for a Christian message in a text and to just enjoy it for what it is. According to Gallagher and Lundin, "The ability to write and read literature is a gift from God." So, delight in it!

Gallagher and Lundin continue by saying, "Although as a result of sin our capacity for enjoyment is much diminished and often wrongly directed, delight is still an important part of God's plan for us." In fact, Jesus came in part, to recapture that ability to feel true joy. So, we as Christians should enjoy literature and other works of art and culture as much as, if not more, than non-Christians.

We should be experts at developing art and culture as well; it's part of being a steward. This was one of the jobs God entrusted to Adam and Eve, but they ruined it. Let us, as Christians, work hard towards redeeming art and culture on Earth now, until the day Christ fully redeems everything back to perfection. The Lord stopped and enjoyed his creation on the seventh day; he declared it was good. So, can't we do the same?

"In acknowledging the skill of an author or the beauty of a work of literature, we praise the great Creator of the heavens and the earth. Delight in a well-crafted work of literature is a response to God." -- Gallagher and Lundin


Gallagher and Lundin don't stop at these points in their book, but go on to examine how we should read and evaluate works of literature, as Christians. They ask, 'What happens when we read?' and discuss the conflict of interpretations. Topics such as: the literary canon and classics are addressed, as well as modern literature, works that are for thinking and works for sheer entertainment, the question of morality, literary forms, and genres.

By reading Literature Through the Eyes of Faith you will not only grow in your understanding of literature, but grow in your understanding of God.

"The profusion of literary texts in our world represent the variety of ways, both good and flawed, that human beings have attempted to develop God's creation and to participate in his world, whether conscious of his hand or ignorant of the true King." -- Gallagher and Lundin


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[sch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended by a colleague for my Intro to Lit class.

Finished. The chapters written by Roger Lundin are confused and incoherent; Susan Gallagher's chapters are usually clear and often insightful. Still, I won't use this book for new English majors, whom it would mislead unless I provided frequent corrections. I might distribute chapters 9, 10, or 11.

Lundin aside, the core problem of the book is its insistence that imaginative literature is practical (it helps us live better) and philosophical (it teaches truth). This is their primary argument for reading literature, and it is fallacious at the root. Reading fiction and poetry is a very inefficient and indirect way to grow in knowledge, much less grace and virtue. Thankfully, Gallagher recognizes that reading is not an automatic path to human improvement, but she remains overconfident about the relationship between imagination and reality, and the relationship between playful intellectual activity and human action. Both authors insist that literature is a way for writers and readers to "cultivate creation." The truth is much more modest: literature is a good way to pass the time, and an adjunct manner of cultivating oneself, when accompanied by solid moral instruction and practice. O'Connor and Maritain are better guides on the nature and value of literature and all human art.

[Elizabeth Eflin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great handling of how the Christian should view (and consume!) literature. There was one little part that was a bit "intersectionality lite," but overall, it is a well thought out book.

"... a Christian reader understands the connection between beauty and truth and realizes that complete beauty includes truth. Reading is a moral act, not only because texts have meaning and power, but because our delight in good workmanship is part of our proper response to God."

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend

[Vicki Lynn Seeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading serious literature is important

This book makes the case that reading literature is a way of honoring God. It’s a challenging read as I tend to mostly read non fiction. When I say it is about reading fiction, the authors are talking about classic novels and poetry. The authors attempt to show how to read from a Christian perspective. They also encourage reading books that are not “Christian” books, that is authors who are not Christian. I certainly got something out of this book but the audience is a narrow one. It is slow reading for sure.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little all over the place for me to recommend unfortunately.

[Kelsey Carnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I didn't read this book in its entirety. I read large portions of it for an English class and a few extra chapters of my own volition, so I probably covered about 60%, all said and done. Although for the most part I agreed with the authors' sentiments, I didn't think their arguments were well organized. I frequently struggled to maintain focus because the writing was so convoluted and, frankly, boring. This was just my overall impression... Others may disagree, but I doubt I would personally have stuck with this book so long if it hadn't been assigned reading.

[Christaaay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an introductory guide to reading and analyzing books according to a Christian worldview. Fascinating stuff:
-What exactly IS Christian Fiction?
-Why is reading important?
-What should we read? How should we decide? (Classics? Popular reads? Are certain genres "bad" by nature? What about books that support worldviews we disagree with?)
Truly, I learned a lot from this book--and it's a quick read! It's easily understandable.
Although I didn't agree with everything, I agreed with MOST of it. Half of it, I'd never even heard of before! This is real eye-opener, and I recommend it to Christian reader or writer who wants to dig deeper into the morals and ethics of literature.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book is a bit dated, I thought it was a good and concise introduction into how, as Christians, we need can about literature. Some of it was a bit elementary for anyone who took a few lit classes and at times the concepts were too vague to actually grip, but I did find it helpful. The authors discussed the use of literature as it tells us about the world, the human story in general, and our ultimate connection with God. I appreciated that their approach was not Missionary Baptist, but saw value in a variety of genres.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book isn't bad. Lundin and Gallagher are smart, capable scholars who have written an introductory text.

But the book doesn't really know who its audience is. There isn't enough here for a more advanced scholar, but the approach seems pretty scatter-shot for an introductory volume.

What, for instance, qualifies as literature in the first place? I would have loved to see these highly qualified authors write a sort of rebuttal to the Eagleton take on that question. the book isn't heavy on theory, but it's not systematic enough to be a primer.

[Marissa Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though wordy and very philosophical at times, this was a very enlightening and well-rounded read.

I do not know if I would have been able to stick through to the end if I did not have to read it for school, but I do have a greater appreciation for this book having read it from beginning to end.

I would probably recommend it. It's a really informative discussion on Christianity and Literature, and-- you guessed it-- reading through the eyes of faith.

[Stephanie Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed reading this. Does that prove that I am a nerd?

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good insight in to why we read/the purpose of literature, etc. Thoroughly enjoyed.