The time has come to write my sample essay for graduate school applications. I’d like to take it as an opportunity for substantial theological work that will—I hope—successfully involve careful historical theology, exegesis, and personal theological reflection.
The topic I’m going to write about is Sickness & Theology. There are three possible relationships here, I think:
- Special theological topics raised by sickness.
- The way sickness changes the experience of theologizing.
- What theology has to say to and about sickness.
Relevant texts will certainly include Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions by John Donne, A Second Birthday by William Stringfellow, and the recent burst of literature about the effect of Calvin’s sickliness upon his theology. Do my readers have any further suggestions?
Not sure about sickness specifically, but you could look up the various theologies related to disability and suffering. On disability, I’m thinking of texts by people like Amos Yong, John Swinton, Nancy Eiesland, Stanley Hauerwas, and Sharon Betcher. On suffering, one could find a lot, but I was thinking of Arthur C. McGill’s text: “Suffering: A Test of Theological Method”.
Thanks Dan–
I had considered the huge literature on suffering and disability—but I need to have a slightly narrower focus given the time frame and purposes of my paper, so I’m trying to limit myself to theologians writing from *within* sickness, not just about it. That last book you mentioned, though, sounds extremely promising—not as a text to write about, but as someone who wrote about the same thing I plan to write about. I suspect McGill’s book would be an excellent pointer to other books as well.
So thanks very much for the suggestions!
On further reflection, I retract my “narrower focus” comment. I think your theologians of disability are actually very relevant…