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 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Christian literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

That Hideous Strength (1945) is a science-fiction novel by writer C.S. Lewis. Lewis subtitled the book “a Modern Fairy-tale for Grown-ups.” The book is the third installment in the renowned Space Trilogy, which also includes Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. Though characters and plot devices from the two previous books appear in That Hideous Strength, it’s written so that it can be read as a standalone book. Like Lewis’s other work, the novel... Read That Hideous Strength Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Self Help, Relationships, Psychology, Christian literature, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 1943

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Christian literature, Education, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

The Abolition of Man is a short book about education and moral values by C.S. Lewis. Its full title is The Abolition of Man; or, Reflections on Education with Special Reference to the Teaching of English in the Upper Forms of Schools. The book originated as a series of three lectures that Lewis, a noted literature scholar and popular Christian writer, delivered at the University of Durham in England in 1943.Lewis begins by critiquing a... Read The Abolition of Man Summary


Publication year 1794

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Philosophy, Age of Enlightenment, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government

Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason is both a defense of Deism and a rejection of the world’s major monotheistic religions. Published in three parts (1794, 1795, 1807), Age of Reason reflects Paine’s belief that a significant religious upheaval would follow in the wake of the American and French Revolutions. In France, privileged orders such as monarchy and aristocracy had been toppled, and the established Catholic Church had not survived the onslaught. Paine feared that... Read The Age Of Reason Summary


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Action / Adventure, Latin American Literature, Inspirational, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality

The Alchemist, first published in 1988, is a novel by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho and translated by Alan R. Clarke. It tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd from Andalusia who dreams of a treasure buried beside the pyramids in Egypt. Heavy with allegory and including many magical elements, the novel has been described as adventure, fantasy, magical realism, and philosophical fiction as it encourages the characters (and the reader) to fulfill their Personal Legends. The... Read The Alchemist Summary


Publication year 1954

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Play: Drama, African American Literature, Race / Racism, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

The Amen Corner (1954) is the first play by American author, orator, and civil rights activist James Baldwin. The play critiques Christian religion as a means of reinforcing oppression and poverty, specifically in Black communities. It also covers the rift between men and women in religious settings by examining the fall of its protagonist, a Black preacher named Margaret. Hollywood actress Juanita Moore, who was friends with Marlon Brando, asked Brando to loan $75 for... Read The Amen Corner Summary


Publication year 1895

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Class, WWI / World War I


Publication year 1959

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1992

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1896

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Teams, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Incarceration, Grief / Death, History: European, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality, British Literature, Victorian Period, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period, History: World, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Religion / Spirituality, Arts / Culture

The Beautiful Mystery, published in 2012, is the eighth book in former Canadian journalist Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series. The Gamache series is known for its recurring cast of characters, psychological depth, and long-term story arcs. Gamache is a longtime member of Québec’s provincial police force, most often known by its French name, the Sûreté du Québec. Gamache’s struggles with police corruption form the main plot of several books, including A Fatal Grace and... Read The Beautiful Mystery Summary


Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Relationships, Depression / Suicide, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality

Louise Erdrich’s The Beet Queen, published in 1986, is a sequel to her award-winning debut novel, Love Medicine. The Beet Queen was followed by two other novels in the series, Tracks and The Bingo Palace. Though most of The Beet Queen’s characters are non-Indigenous, the series as a whole is concerned with issues facing Indigenous Americans, particularly those living on tribal lands in Minnesota and North Dakota. Characters and storylines are woven throughout the four... Read The Beet Queen Summary


Publication year 1958

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, LGBTQ, British Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1969

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: European, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality, Politics / Government, Urban Development, Leadership/Organization/Management, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World


Publication year 2004

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Class

Tags History: European, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1967

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure

American author Scott O’Dell’s The Black Pearl is a young adult novel and bildungsroman (coming-of-age story) that was first published in 1967. The Black Pearl was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal, which recognizes distinguished American children’s literature. The work’s literary influences include Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and John Steinbeck’s The Pearl—another novel set among the pearl divers of La Paz. Scott O’Dell is best known for historical children’s fiction and his novel Island of... Read The Black Pearl Summary


Publication year 1872

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Philosophy, Animals, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1914

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Religion / Spirituality