Religion & Spirituality

In this collection we've gathered fiction and nonfiction texts that address humanity's age-old search for meaning and purpose within a higher power.

Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos

Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, World History, Science & Nature, Philosophy, Psychology, Fantasy, Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Revenge, Femininity, Mental Health, Aging, Midlife, Death, Place, Teamwork, Community, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

Publication year 1895

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, Economics

Tags Classic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, European History, Poverty, Russian Literature, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy

“Master and Man” is a short story, written in Russian, by Leo Tolstoy in 1895—a period of the author’s life often considered distinct from the early periods of his most famous novels. Having disowned these previous works, the 67-year-old began writing stories on ethical-religious themes. Set in post-reform Russia, when serfdom was abolished and capitalistic forms of work were redefining social life, “Master and Man” is also a commentary on the effects of the new... Read Master and Man Summary

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Death, Future, Teamwork, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror & Suspense, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Medieval, Gender & Feminism, World History, Religion & Spirituality

Publication year 1630

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Death

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Metaphysical

John Donne, one of the most famous English writers of the Jacobean Age, is the central figure of a group of 17th-century poets called the Metaphysical poets. These poets combined complex, unusual metaphors with philosophic and scientific allusions, their poems often focusing on metaphysical quandaries (hence the name “Metaphysical poetry”). Donne wrote “Meditation 17” in 1623 while he was deathly ill, and though it isn’t a poem, the sermon still explores the metaphysical mystery of... Read Meditation 17 Summary

Publication year 180

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Fate, Perseverance, Good & Evil

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Rome, Philosophy, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Biography, Self-Improvement, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Meditations is a collection of prose philosophical reflections and exercises composed in Koine Greek by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who lived from 121-180 and ruled from 161-180. Though the precise dating of his compositions is unknown and they are not believed to be presented in chronological order, at least some of the books were written while he was on military campaign in the north of Europe during his reign. Scholars are generally in consensus that... Read Meditations Summary

Publication year 1641

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fate, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Philosophy, Age of Enlightenment, Religion & Spirituality, Education, Education, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Meditations on First Philosophy is a philosophical treatise by René Descartes. Originally published in Latin in 1641, the text would go on to influence European and global philosophical traditions. In this work, Descartes argues for the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. Two of its major contributions to philosophy are mind/body dualism and the famous phrase “I think, therefore, I am.” The book comprises six meditations wherein Descartes seeks to doubt all... Read Meditations on First Philosophy Summary

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Good & Evil

Tags Asian Literature, Chinese Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Asian Literature, World History, Classical Period, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Mencius is a philosophical text based on the thought and teachings of fourth-century BCE Confucian Chinese philosopher Mencius, or Mengzi. According to the latest scholarship, written in the late fourth century BCE by Mencius’s disciples from notes on what Mencius said, it details conversations he had with various kings, rulers, and officials. These discussions cover a range of topics, from moral and political philosophy to human nature and selfhood. The following guide uses the translation... Read Mencius Summary

Publication year 1952

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Forgiveness, Shame & Pride, Religion & Spirituality, Marriage

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Mere Christianity by Clive Staples Lewis (more commonly known as C. S. Lewis) was first published in 1952 as an expansion of some radio talks Lewis gave during World War II. Though Lewis is best known for his children’s fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia (particularly The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), Mere Christianity is likely Lewis’s most famous work of Christian apologetics—a genre dedicated to addressing various critiques of Christian theology.  Lewis was... Read Mere Christianity Summary

Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Family

Tags Magical Realism, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Poverty, Social Class, World History, Religion & Spirituality, Asian Literature, Historical Fiction, Indian Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Midnight’s Children is a 1981 magical realism novel by British American novelist Salman Rushdie. The story follows Saleem, a child born at the moment of India’s independence who possesses strange powers. The novel won many awards, including the Booker of Bookers Prize, which was awarded to the best all-time winner of the Booker Prize on the award’s 40th anniversary. Midnight’s Children has been adapted for theater, radio, and film. This guide uses the 2006 Vintage... Read Midnight's Children Summary

Publication year 1947

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, Space, Art, Beauty, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Philosophy

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Family

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Jacob Portman believes he is ordinary and is fascinated with his extraordinary grandfather, Abraham Portman, during his childhood years. Grandpa Portman introduces Jacob to interesting stories about monsters and unusual pictures of peculiar children. As a child, Abraham escaped Nazi Germany to Wales, where he lived in a house with other children under the guidance of Headmistress Peregrine.The older Jacob becomes, however, the more disbelief he has toward his grandfather’s stories. Similarly, Jacob’s family thinks... Read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Summary

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Community

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Diversity, Religion & Spirituality, Grief & Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Canadian author Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach (2000) is set in the village of Kitamaat in British Columbia, Canada. Kitamaat is the primary community of the Haisla nation, one of the Indigenous Canadian groups known as the First Nations. Monkey Beach tells the story of teenager Lisa Hill, whose brother Jimmy has mysteriously disappeared. In the aftermath of his disappearance, Lisa reflects on memories of her youth. The novel combines elements of mystery and the... Read Monkey Beach Summary

Publication year 2001

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Race, Fathers

Tags French Literature, Grief & Death, Coming of Age, Relationships, Realistic Fiction, Parenting, Love & Sexuality, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy

First published as a play in 2001, the novella Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is part of Franco-Belgian author Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s Cycle of the Invisible series consisting of unrelated stories on the themes of human connection, the transition from childhood to adulthood, and spirituality. Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran has been performed on the stage and was adapted for the screen in 2003. This study guide refers to Marjolijn... Read Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran Summary

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Place, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Education, Education, African American Literature, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Moses, Man of the Mountain is an allegorical novel by African-American author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The novel reimagines the life of Moses and the biblical narrative of the Exodus from Egypt with several important changes, including the use of African American dialect, slang, and folklore. Throughout the novel, Hurston draws allegorical parallels between the enslavement of the Hebrew people in Egypt and the enslavement of people of African descent in the United States... Read Moses, Man of the Mountain Summary