'What is Truth?'
Book Description
In a world where traditional religious institutions face declining influence, theologian Andrew Shanks presents a bold vision for revitalizing Christian thought through the transformative power of poetry. This groundbreaking work challenges centuries of Western philosophical and theological tradition that have consistently undervalued poetic expression as a pathway to divine truth.
Shanks identifies a crucial gap in how mainstream Christianity has approached spiritual understanding, arguing that both classical theology and modern philosophical movements led by thinkers like Heidegger and Nietzsche have fallen short in their treatment of poetic revelation. Rather than accepting these limitations, he charts an innovative course toward what he terms "mythic theology."
The author weaves together the prophetic voices of three extraordinary poets across different eras: Friedrich Hölderlin, William Blake, and Nelly Sachs. By examining their work through a fresh theological lens, Shanks demonstrates how prophetic poetry can serve as a vital bridge between spiritual truth and human experience. He liberates Hölderlin from narrow philosophical interpretations while revealing profound connections between these visionary artists.
This theological exploration offers more than academic theory. Shanks advocates for a new alliance between bold prophetic poetry and contemporary Christian thought, proposing "theological poetics" as an essential strategy for spiritual renewal. For readers seeking deeper understanding of how artistic expression can illuminate divine truth, this work opens unexplored territories where faith and creativity converge in powerful new ways.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 208 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Philosophical theology
- ✓ Explore Poetics
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Christian Theology
- ✓ Explore Systematic
- ✓ Explore Theologie
- ✓ Explore Letterkunde
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
