Story Time: A Morning of Reflection on Integrating Theology and Literature

Agenda:

8:30 A.M. | Morning Prayer in the Chapel

9:00 A.M. | Session 1: Why Should we Use Literature to Teach Theology? Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Klein

9:45 A.M. | Refreshment Break

10:00 A.M | Session 2: Leaf, by Niggle: A Catholic Writer's Fantasy, presented by Dr. Andrew Seeley

10:45 A.M. | Discussion, Integrating Literature and Theology in your Classroom

11:00 A.M | Holy Mass, Music by the Schola of the Augustine Institute

Catholic teachers in the Archdiocese of St. Louis will receive credit for one formation opportunity.

‍

Talk Descriptions:

Why Should We Use Literature to Teach Theology? – Dr. Elizabeth Klein

In this talk, we will discuss the benefit of literature to theological education. Beginning from Augustine’s claim in his great work, On the Trinity, that literature helps us to see truths we already know, we will explore the reason why the Biblical text, in which God discloses himself, is mostly comprised of stories. Finally, we will discuss the relationship between literature and theology as a discipline.

‍

Leaf, by Niggle: A Catholic Writer's Fantasy – Dr. Andrew Seeley

J.R.R. Tolkien said that every creative writer hopes his work “may be a far-off gleam or echo of evangelium in the real world,” In his short story, “Leaf, by Niggle”, Tolkien imagines his dream come true through Niggle, a mediocre but passionate painter who has caught a glimpse of the beauty of another world that he was meant to share in this one.