Spiritual Autobiography: A Unique Form of Creative Nonfiction

Catalog description

While William James says mystical experience 'defies expression,' creative writers believe good writing is rich with clear examples and description. How then is it possible to write a good spiritual autobiography? This question will form the focus of our exploration. Students will read spiritual narratives from a wide range of traditions, respond to them in writing, and construct their own spiritual autobiographies. There will be weekly writing assignments as well as a final spiritual observation essay and a spiritual autobiography. In class, our time will be devoted to workshopping, discussion of writing craft, and close reading of published spiritual narratives.