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The Christian Literary Life: Don't Lose Faith Yet!

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Christian Literature Shouldn't Be So Bad

Are you a Christian who loves great literature? Has the state of modern Christian pop culture and publishing left you wondering if Christian Literature is an oxymoron?

Actually, there is a decent collection of contemporary publications where faith meets the diversity and depth of literary art. And that's what this lens collects for you.

This lens points to publications and platforms that are successfully combining faith with intelligent, culturally relevant literature. I've thrown in some other useful resources, as well, to add a little kick to the flavor. I hope this helps you see the familiar in unfamiliar ways.

Christian Lit Journals

The following are respected journals that effectively explore the relationship of faith and culture. Whether you write poetry, essays or fiction, you should be able find a place that meets your interests.
Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religion
Among my favorite journals, Image is respected among internationally established journals for its quality and relevance.
Mars Hill Review
Mars Hill Review is no longer active. However, past issues can be obtained and enjoyed.
Relief Journal: A Quarterly Christian Expression
For authors who cry out for a venue and readers who long for stories that don't make them gag.
Rock & Sling: A Journal of Literature, Art and Faith
Rock & Sling seeks to be a forum for writers and artists to forage the vistas, abysses and near misses of spirituality
Ruminate: Faith in Literature & Art
Ruminate was created by a few fellow writers and believers who wanted to develop a space for the thoughtful expressions of those who are nudged forward, backward, and sideways by a faith in God.
First Things: A Journal of Religion, Culture and Public Life
First Things is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society.
The Christian Century
The Christian Century magazine examines issues of politics and culture as well as theology, and pays attention to the challenges of faith that arise in our everyday lives as parents, friends, spouses and citizens.
Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
Sojourners mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.

Articles and Essays of Interest

I'll continue to add links to articles that relate to the intersection of Christianity, culture and literature.
The Way We Live Now: God's Country by Walter Kirn
Author Walter Kirn's perspective what Great Awakenings in the U.S.
In God's Image: Do Good People Make Good Art?
Gregory Wolfe is editor of Image Journal.
Christian Fiction Gets Real
Article from Christianity Today from April 2000 that comments on shifting Christian fiction market.
The Uses and Misuses of Inspiration
Carole McDonnell contributes to the dialogue of why so much Christian Fiction is so bad.

Resources

Whether you're looking for ideas or in the middle of research, you should find some relevant places to explore.
The American Academy of Poets
Search, read and hear your favorite American poets and their innovative work.
Apologetics.com
Challenging believers to think and thinkers to believe.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of 250 architects, composers, artists, and writers.
Modern American Poetry
Critical and historical essays and syllabi on modern American Poetry. Many of the works relate to poems in the Oxford Anthology of Modern American Poetry.
Christianity Today
Contains the full text of Christianity Today's 13 magazines, top religion news, reviews, and two search engines with links to thousands of Christian websites.
Barna Research Group
Serving the information needs of the church by offering statistics, resources, seminars and custom research on current cultural and spiritual trends.
Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers, Inc. is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers.
NewPages
NewPages is the Portal of Independents! News, information and guides to independent bookstores, independent publishers, literary periodicals, alternative periodicals, independent record labels, alternative newsweeklies and more.

Free Online Literature

Enjoy reading some of the greatest writing ever written free!
Bartleby: Great Books Online
The preeminent publisher of literature, reference and verse.
The Holy Bible
Read and search what many consider the greatest "book" ever written through numerous translations.

Christian Literature on Amazon

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Must Links

Articles, Essays, Podcasts and Video Worth The Trip

In God's Image: Do Good People Make Good Art?
Interesting essay by Image Journal's editor Gregory Wolfe.

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KeithJennings

Hi, my name is Keith Reynold Jennings.
I'm a professional writer with an eclectic variety of published work. In addition to my own bylines, I've gho... more »

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