Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim
Types and Distortions of Spiritual Vocation in the Fiction of Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy
- Arts & Literature
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2014
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Publisher's Description
Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim: Types and Distortions of Spiritual Vocation in the Fiction of Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy provides a reading of characters in the novels and short stories of two important contemporary American writers through the lens of spiritual theology. Applying the work of Rowan Williams, Nicholas Lash, and others, Edmondson constructs a theological framework that takes seriously the notion of Christian spirituality not as an invitation to flee from this world, but rather as a way of life that seeks reconciliation and joy within this world, encountering and embracing Godʼs presence within everyday existence, in the contexts of such realities as corporeality, communities, and the created order as a whole. This framework is then applied to the fiction of two American authors, Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy. By comparing these writers, the characters they create, and the worldviews that shape their narratives, Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim demonstrates, in ways that can be applied to other works and other characters, how the reading of fiction can inform the pursuit of the spiritual life.
Endorsements (3)
“Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy are two of our most important writers. In this fine book, Todd Edmondson shows the ways in which the work of both is shaped by a careful consideration of Christian spirituality. Edmondson's development of a creation-embracing theology of spirituality, along with his thoughtful analysis of these writers' work, make Priest, Prophet, Pilgrim a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of theology and literature.”
“With the heart of a priest, the ethical sensitivity of a prophet, and the imagination of a pilgrim, Todd Edmondson weaves a complex tapestry from the literary threads of Wendell Berry and Cormac McCarthy. This is a real-world look at spiritual vocation; prepare to experience the creative tension between stories of hope and stories of despair from these two literary giants.”
“By bringing into sharp theological relief the characters drawn from two masterful but intriguingly different writers, Edmondson helps us better imagine how our embodied and seemingly mundane lives in communion with each other and creation might bear powerful witness to both the beauty and the sacredness of life in the flesh.”
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