Religious literature’s newfound popularity, part 2

June 10, 10:48 PMLA Christian Literature ExaminerStacy Burns

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The book that started it all?

As I stated in my previous post, I grew up reading Christian literature: the Mandie series, Janette Oke, Gilbert Morris. Over time, however, I grew bored with it. Even as a pre-teen I noticed that the story lines were the same. Morris’s House of Winslow series were all about a rebellious son falling in love and coming to Christ, generation after generation (of course, this didn’t stop me from reading clear through the pilgrims to the start of the 20th century). Oke liked school teachers and widows—women travelling from the east, finding independence and love. Mandie always rushed into an easily avoided catstrophe and found herself raising her face to the sky and praying to be delivered. Something else these books all had in common, across writers and genres, were lengthy sermons plopped right into the center of the plot. Entire chapters of dialogue pulled straight from a gospel tract. As I grew older, I felt guilty for skipping these chapters and would occasionally skim through the lines—but usually not.

Some say that the resurgence of religious literature (and Christian literature in particular) started in 2005 with Marilynn Robinson’s Gilead (a great read for those of you who haven’t read it yet) winning the Pulitzer Prize. What made this book great was its ability to present human dilemmas within a Christian framework without getting “preachy.” The writing is strong, the plot is captivating, the characters are relatable, and people come away from that book having been presented with a view of Christianity that is honest in both its human-implemented shortcomings and its God-filled grace. Better yet, there are no sermons stuck in the middle of the book to be skipped over.

But there are other reasons why religious literature is rising in popularity. After all, if people only wanted a good read, there is an abundance of secular-themed writing. As Jane Love, a buyer for Barnes and Noble, said, people are looking for “inspirational and uplifting books.” With record unemployment, pay cuts across the board, renewed fears of a nuclear apocalypse, and an uncertain future, this newfound interest in faith-based books should come as no surprise. Neither should the new study released by the Pew Forum, which shows that the majority (54%) of people raised in atheistic or agnostic homes convert to a religion as adults.

It is no coincidence that religious literature is selling at a faster rate at the same time that people brought up in non-religious homes are converting to faith. There is a spiritual need within each one of us that leads to unfulfillment and dissatisfaction when ignored. Fortunately, Christian writers have perfected their craft to a point where they are ready to help fill that need.