Literature of Spiritual Crisis
FYSEMR 53G
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Some of the most important questions of human existence have emerged out of moments of spiritual crisis: What purpose does suffering have? How does one find meaning in life? What if God or the divine is silent, absent, or uncaring?
Literature and the arts have proven to be especially fruitful areas for people not only to explore these religious and philosophical questions but also to offer ways of finding consolation in the midst of crisis. In this seminar we will study a wide range of representations of spiritual crisis and consolation from ancient times up to the present, including works and authors such as The Book of Job, Boethius, Tolstoy, and Annie Dillard. We will consider how personal convictions and religious belief, including indifference and uncertainty, shape characters’ responses to crises. In the process we will reflect on the possibilities and the limits of language and artistic expression both to give voice to the depths of spiritual crisis and to imagine the possibilities for consolation.
Class Notes
First-Year Seminars are available only to first-year students. You may apply to both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 First-Year Seminars via the FYS lottery between July 7 and August 7, 2025 at 11:59PM-midnight.
You may apply to as many seminars each term as you would like, but we recommend you apply to at least six in fall and three in spring.
As part of your application, you must provide a brief statement on why you are interested in each seminar. You will be notified of lottery results for both fall and spring seminars at 5 pm on Mon, August 11. If you are unsuccessful in the lottery, you may still join any seminar with open seats. A list of open seminars and instructions on next steps will be available on the First-Year Seminar Program website August 11 at 12 Noon.
Not Available for Cross Registration
