What does this research mean for the field?

Religious and spiritual experiences in literature are characterized as profound and meaningful, often described as 'special' experiences that reflect ultimate concerns. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore and analyze the representation of religious and spiritual experiences in literature.

March 7, 2026Open Access

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Introduction to the Special Issue “Imagining Ultimacy: Religious and Spiritual Experience in Literature”

MWMatthew WickmanBrigham Young University

Key Points

To explore and analyze the representation of religious and spiritual experiences in literature.
Literature review of scholarly discussions on religious and spiritual experiences.
Analysis of the contributions of Ann Taves and Paul Tillich to the understanding of these experiences.
Examination of various literary works that reflect themes of spirituality.
Identified key characteristics of religious and spiritual experiences in literary contexts.
Highlighted the interplay between literature and concepts of ultimate concern.
Provided insights into the depth and meaning of these experiences as portrayed in works of literature.

Abstract

Scholars who study religious and spiritual experiences often describe them as full, profound, meaningful, and enlightening: “special” experiences, Ann Taves calls them; for Paul Tillich, they are matters of “ultimate concern ...

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Cite This Study

Matthew Wickman (Thu,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69abc2455af8044f7a4ebb8e https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17030323

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