Devotion: Three Inquiries in Religion, Literature, and Political Imagination

Three scholars of religion explore literature and the literary as sites of critical transformation, suggesting that what and how we read opens new ways of imagining our political futures and lives. They are interested in literature not as providing models but as creating the site in which the possible and impossible transport the reader, enabling new forms of thought, habits of mind, and ways of life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 10 December 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Three scholars of religion delve into the realms of literature and the literary as potent sites of critical transformation. In this era of profound uncertainty, we are confronted with a multitude of pressing political, ecological, economic, epidemiological, and social challenges. Constance M. Furey, Sarah Hammerschlag, and Amy Hollywood, renowned scholars in the field of religion, unite their expertise in this captivating volume, firmly believing that the act of reading holds the key to unlocking new horizons for envisioning our political futures and shaping our lives.

Within these pages, each essay offers unique perspectives on the nature of devotion and the stance of the devout subject. Furey explores devotion through the lens of vivification, energy, and artifice, Hammerschlag examines it through commentary, mimicry, and fetishism, and Hollywood delves into the realms of anarchy, antinomianism, and atopia. Their interest in literature extends beyond seeking ethical, political, or religious guidance; rather, they perceive it as a catalyst for fostering the emergence of new forms of thought, cultivating habits of mind, and paving the way for alternative ways of life.

This volume spans a diverse range of thinkers, from German theologian Martin Luther to French-Jewish philosopher Sarah Kofman and American poet Susan Howe. It serves as a profound reflection on the diverse forms of devotion and their critical and creative significance. Moreover, it becomes an embodiment of devotion itself, transporting readers to new realms of imagination and inspiring a deeper sense of awe and wonder.

In conclusion, Three Scholars of Religion: Literature and the Literary as Sites of Critical Transformation is a groundbreaking exploration that invites us to reimagine our relationship with literature and the literary. Through their insightful essays, Furey, Hammerschlag, and Hollywood offer us a roadmap for navigating the complexities of our times and cultivating a more vibrant and meaningful existence.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 146 x 224 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226816104