Faith and the short story

Good Question

Susan Breen said:

Hi all, I'm teaching a class at my church in faith and the short story. It's difficult because I'm not exactly sure what I'm talking about, but I'm wondering, is there any short story (or novel) you've read that made you think about your faith in a different way?

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Hey Susan!

Is the class on the bolstering one's faith by reading short stories, the suitability of short stories (or fiction at large) to issues of faith, the process of showing/building tenets of faith into short stories...? Are you searching for curriculum fodder, or a plan of approach for the class? (I assume you are, since you say you're not sure what you're talking about.) Just curious, because it sounds like it might be an interesting class(!)

Of course, C.S. Lewis comes immediately to mind with The Great Divorce, his Space Trilogy, The Screwtape Letters, etc. I wrote my novella (first in a historical fiction series centered on the prophet Jonah) with the intent of including theological nuggets that speaks to issues of faith, attitude and behavior. I'm continuing in that mindset with the follow-on novels, so one of my desires in writing the series is that thought would be stimulated and faith both bolstered and challenged. I suspect that's at the very least a minor goal of anyone who's inspired to write Christian fiction.

Does any of this help?

(Best of everything in preparing for the class!)

Cheers! Bruce

A novel, not a short story. (Everyone who's heard me praise this writer to the skies already can click on another thread now. ) The Brother's Keeper by Tracy Groot.

This is why. I was a cradle Catholic. Don't know about how any other Catholics were raised, but in my parish it was: follow all the rules, memorize the prayers, learn technical terms like "hypostatic union" and obey the priests and the nuns. That's faith, that's all there is. Deal with it.

Ms. Groot's book, like a rubber mallet to the head, made me realize there's a Person behind all those rules. A Person who loves me. It was an earth-shattering moment.

The Guideposts magazine's annual release. I found many, many stories in those that made me think about faith.

Like the one about the girl who took home chicken from the restaurant where she worked when she got off late one night. And it saved her life. (yes!)

I'll never forget that story: 'When the Spirit nudges you - listen. The life you save may be your own.'

Technically, I guess they aren't "stories" since they're true and not fiction - but they might help you out.

Susan Breen said:

Hi all, I'm teaching a class at my church in faith and the short story. It's difficult because I'm not exactly sure what I'm talking about, but I'm wondering, is there any short story (or novel) you've read that made you think about your faith in a different way?

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Wow, that is a great question. These are a few for me.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find" Flannery O Connor.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" Oscar Wilde.
"Crime and Punishment" Dostoevsky.
"Lilith" by George MacDonald
"Out of the Silent Planet "(trilogy) by C.S. Lewis
"The Metamorpohsis" -Kafka

Good Luck!

For absolute depth, it's hard to beat J.I. Packer's Knowing God

But another book I recently read, which is more a compilation of memoirs is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. It's a very easy read and each chapter is like a short story, but it totally hit my heart because it was so simple and sincere. I'd recommend it to anyone at any point in their spiritual journey.

ETA: I'm also reading Louie Giglio's I am not, but I know I AM right now. It's not anything earth-shattering, but it's a pretty easy read with some good reminders of deep truths.

If you can get your hands on the story of George Mueller, it would be well worth the read. Now THERE was a man of faith. Great role model.
Linnea

My definition of a "short story" is that it should be readable in just an hour --two at the most. I think "Hinds Feet on High Places" might qualify (if you're a fast reader) and maybe "The Screwtape Letters." And "Pilgrim's Progress."

Try this book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1595540776/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

I read (and write) lots of short stories. A good story can have a life long impact, faith-related or not. Concise, pithy, pointed and absorbing, the form of the short story can pull the reader in deeply in few words and little time, making it an excellent form for single-subject exploration.