LITERATŪROS TEOLOGIJOS KAIP TEORINĖS PERSPEKTYVOS GALIOJIMO CENTRAS, PERIFERIJA, RIBOS
THE CENTER, THE PERIPHERY AND LIMITS OF COMPETENCE OF THE THEOLOGY OF LITERATURE AS THE THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

Summary/Abstract: The article sets to explore the validity of the theology of literature: what are the center, the periphery and limits of this interdisciplinary theoretical perspective. Literary theology based on existential experience (the theological thought seen in literature) is held to be a variant of individual theological quest. The main subject of literary theological thought is always more human being than God, as literature itself is a form of human consciousness. God appears in the context of literary introspection when the artistic thought is seeking for God and meaning. The theology of literature investigates such a literary theological insight, i. e., it investigates literary interpretation of the origin and sense of existence. Literary metaphor creates new modes to refer to deep religious experiences that are impossible to verbalize in concepts. Metaphor performs the opposite function as well: it protects the metaphysical realm from reduction. Criticism needs to be enriched with theological competence in order to interpret literary works that have got theological denotations. The periphery of validity of the theology of literature are such literary works that show not theological but rather general humanistic thought. This theory can tell the least about such literature that is dominated by religious indifference.

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