The Conference on Christianity & Literature

Journal

Christianity & Literature is devoted to the scholarly exploration of how literature engages Christian thought, experience, and practice. The journal presupposes no particular theological orientation but respects an orthodox understanding of Christianity as a historically defined faith. Contributions appropriate for submission should demonstrate a keen awareness of the author's own critical assumptions in addressing significant issues of literary history, interpretation, and theory.

The journal is sponsored by the Conference on Christianity and Literature, a national organization interested in the relationship of Christianity and literature and dedicated to both scholarly excellence and collegial exchange. It is a member of CELJ, the Council of Editors of Learned Journals. Each issue of the journal, which has been published for more than 50 years, contains peer-reviewed scholarly articles, book reviews, poetry, and news and announcements of interest to CCL members.

See  Archives for the titles and names of authors of articles published in Christianity and Literature since 1985.  One poem from the most recent journal issue will be featured on this site. For examples of  poetry published in the journal and featured on this site, see  recent poetry.

For more information about submissions or subscriptions, see the appropriate link below.

For other inquiries, please contact Tammy Ditmore, Managing Editor, at tammy.ditmore@pepperdine.edu.

Questions to Tammy Ditmore (tammy.ditmore@pepperdine.edu)

 

In the Latest Issue of Christianity & Literature:


My Fellow Creatures
Do a Better Job
Than I

Mary Kennan Herbert

Everything shuts down
in the hummingbird
when it must endure
extreme cold in
paradise, where there
is always a price
to pay.

To survive the icy
nights it shuts down
everything but brain,
heart, and liver, yields
itself to the cold,
and keeps a nugget

of life safe until dawn,
when all systems
are go. I'm not
that good
in the scheme of
things. My ticker
insists on keeping
the pace,

and extremities keep 
on pulsing,
everybody wants
to get into the act.
Hands and feet
could freeze because
of poor decisions
at command

central. The wolf licks
its chops, thinking
of a warm,
gutsy dinner.
Lucky hummingbird.
Tiny perfect jewel,
who can fail to be
impressed

with your efficiency,
your aesthetic
lessons for us,
your captured
sunlight, your mission
to deliver nectar
like a bee,
pleasing the Deity.

Wolf, you can quickly
take me now,
an old body
from the freezer.
Little things,
however, may
escape your notice.
Small, warm,
dazzling.

Winter 2009