Theologization in Literature & Literary Theory

Theologization : Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology/Term:

The term “theologization” is derived from the combination of two words – “theology” and “ization.” “Theology” refers to the study of the divine, religious beliefs, and the nature of the divine, while “ization” denotes the process of making something conform to a particular quality or condition. Therefore, “theologization” broadly refers to the process of imbuing a subject, idea, or concept with theological or religious attributes.

Meanings and Concept:

Meaning/Concept	Description
Religious Interpretation	Theologization involves interpreting various aspects of life, culture, or phenomena through a religious lens, attributing spiritual or divine significance to them.
Doctrinal Integration	It refers to the integration of theological doctrines and principles into non-religious or secular domains, shaping ideologies and practices based on religious teachings.
Faith-Based Transformation	Theologization may involve transforming secular ideas, institutions, or practices into ones rooted in faith and religious beliefs, influencing societal norms and values.
Cultural and Social Influence	The concept extends to the impact of theology on culture and society, influencing art, ethics, politics, and other facets of human life through the infusion of religious perspectives.
Ideological Shaping	Theologization can shape ideologies by molding them according to religious tenets, leading to the development of belief systems that align with specific theological or doctrinal principles.

Theologization, therefore, represents a dynamic process wherein theological elements are applied or infused into various aspects of human existence, influencing beliefs, values, and practices across different domains.

Theologization : Definition of a Theoretical Term

Theologization is the process of imbuing non-religious concepts or domains with religious or theological attributes. It involves interpreting, integrating, or transforming ideas, practices, and institutions through the lens of religious beliefs and doctrines. This theoretical term underscores the influence of theology on shaping cultural, social, and ideological aspects of human life.

Theologization : Theorists, Works and Argument

Theorist	Works	Main Argument
Max Weber	The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	Weber argues that the rise of capitalism in Western society is influenced by Protestant religious values, illustrating theologization’s impact on economic systems.
Mircea Eliade	The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion	Eliade explores the concept of sacredness and the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane, emphasizing how religious symbols theologize human experiences.
Charles Taylor	A Secular Age	Taylor delves into the secularization process and argues that even in a secular age, religious ideas continue to shape the cultural and social landscape, exemplifying ongoing theologization.
Talal Asad	Formations of the Secular: Christianity, Islam, Modernity	Asad challenges the secularization narrative, emphasizing the entanglement of religious and secular discourses and the continuous influence of theology on shaping modern concepts.
Jan Assmann	Of God and Gods: Egypt, Israel, and the Rise of Monotheism (George L. Mosse Series in the History of European Culture, Sexuality, and Ideas) Paperback – May 21, 2008	Assmann explores the historical development of monotheism, examining the theological transformations in Egypt and Israel, shedding light on the rise of monotheistic beliefs.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau	The Social Contract	Rousseau discusses the concept of the “civil religion,” highlighting how theology can play a role in shaping the social contract and political institutions.

Theologization : Major Characteristics

1. Religious Interpretation:
   • Theologization entails the interpretation of various phenomena, ideas, or practices through a religious lens, attributing spiritual or divine significance to them.
2. Integration of Theological Doctrines:
   • It involves the integration of theological doctrines and principles into non-religious or secular domains, shaping ideologies and practices based on religious teachings.
3. Transformation of Secular to Sacred:
   • Theologization may lead to the transformation of secular ideas, institutions, or practices into ones imbued with religious or sacred attributes, influencing societal norms and values.
4. Cultural and Social Influence:
   • It extends to the broader impact of theology on culture and society, influencing art, ethics, politics, and other facets of human life through the infusion of religious perspectives.
5. Ideological Shaping:
   • Theologization plays a role in shaping ideologies, molding them according to religious tenets and contributing to the development of belief systems aligned with specific theological or doctrinal principles.
6. Continuous Evolution:
   • The concept of theologization acknowledges its dynamic nature, recognizing that theological elements can continuously influence and shape human experiences and thought across different historical and cultural contexts.
7. Entanglement of Religion and Other Discourses:
   • Theologization highlights the entanglement of religious and secular discourses, challenging simplistic narratives of secularization and emphasizing the ongoing influence of theology on various domains of human life.
8. Impact on Worldviews:
   • It influences individual and collective worldviews by infusing them with religious perspectives, contributing to the formation of a comprehensive outlook on life and existence.
9. Historical and Comparative Analysis:
   • Theologization often involves historical and comparative analysis, examining how theological ideas evolve, adapt, and influence societies over time, as exemplified in studies of the rise of monotheism or the impact of specific religious movements.
10. Intersection with Modern Issues:
    • Theologization is not confined to historical contexts but intersects with modern issues, such as the integration of technology and theology or the ongoing dialogue between religious and secular discourses in contemporary societies.

Theologization : Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Theologization
Reader-Response Theory	Theologization can shape readers’ interpretations, as religious elements may influence how texts are perceived and understood, impacting the reader’s response.
Feminist Literary Theory	Examining how gender roles and identities are influenced by religious doctrines, theologization plays a role in feminist critiques of patriarchal narratives and norms.
Postcolonial Literary Theory	Theologization is relevant in postcolonial literature as it explores the impact of colonial religious ideologies on indigenous cultures and the subsequent decolonization processes.
Structuralism	Theologization can be analyzed structurally, considering how religious symbols and narratives form intricate systems within literary works, influencing their overall meaning.
Deconstruction	Deconstruction may engage with theologization by questioning and destabilizing fixed meanings attributed to religious symbols and texts, revealing their inherent complexities.
Marxist Literary Theory	Examining the socio-economic aspects of literature, theologization can be studied in how religious ideologies intersect with class structures and influence the portrayal of power dynamics.
Psychoanalytic Literary Theory	Theologization can be explored through psychoanalytic lenses, analyzing how religious themes may manifest in the unconscious aspects of literary characters and plots.
Cultural Studies	Considering the intersection of culture and religion, theologization is relevant in cultural studies for understanding how religious ideologies contribute to the formation of cultural identities.
Postmodern Literary Theory	In postmodern literature, theologization may be deconstructed, subverted, or reinterpreted, challenging traditional religious narratives and exploring new perspectives on spirituality.
Ecocriticism	Theologization can be relevant in ecocriticism by examining how religious beliefs shape attitudes toward nature and the environment in literary texts.

Theologization’s impact on literary theories demonstrates its versatile role in influencing interpretations, cultural contexts, and the broader understanding of literary works.

Theologization : Application in Critiques

1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia):
   • Theologization can be applied to analyze the novel’s magical realism, exploring how religious symbolism and themes contribute to the portrayal of Macondo’s history. The blending of Catholicism with indigenous beliefs in the narrative reflects the complex interplay of theology in the characters’ lives and the socio-cultural context.
2. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Russia):
   • Theologization can be employed to unpack the novel’s satirical critique of Soviet society. The character of Woland, often identified with the devil, and the novel’s supernatural elements provide a lens for examining how religious tropes are used to comment on political and societal ideologies, illustrating the subversive power of theologization.
3. Blindness by José Saramago (Portugal):
   • Theologization can be applied to analyze the novel’s exploration of morality and human behavior in the face of an epidemic of sudden blindness. The breakdown of societal norms and the characters’ moral struggles can be interpreted through theological perspectives, considering the novel’s implications for questions of sin, redemption, and the human condition.
4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan):
   • Theologization can be utilized to examine the religious and moral dimensions of the novel set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history. The characters’ actions and the themes of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption can be analyzed through the lens of Islamic theology, enriching the understanding of cultural and religious influences on the narrative.
5. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Mexico):
   • Theologization can be applied to explore the novel’s use of magical realism and its connection to traditional Mexican beliefs and Catholicism. Examining the protagonist Tita’s relationships and the magical events in the narrative through a theological framework can enhance the interpretation of the novel’s exploration of love, desire, and familial bonds.

In each of these foreign literary works, theologization can offer a nuanced perspective, enriching the understanding of the cultural, societal, and moral dimensions embedded in the narratives.

Theologization : Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Religiousization	The process of imbuing non-religious elements with religious attributes or characteristics.
Sacralization	The act of regarding something as sacred, often involving rituals or attributing divine significance.
Deification	Elevating a person, concept, or entity to the status of a deity or divine being.
Spiritualization	Infusing spiritual or transcendent qualities into various aspects of life, thought, or experience.
Divinization	The transformation or integration of an entity into a divine state or essence.
Theocratization	The establishment or influence of a theocratic system, where religious leaders hold political power.
Sacramentalization	The process of endowing elements with sacramental qualities, often within religious rituals.
Mythologization	Treating events, figures, or concepts as mythical, often involving symbolic or religious narratives.
Clericalization	The infusion of clerical or religious authority into various domains, institutions, or practices.
Sacerdotalization	The attribution of priestly or sacred characteristics to individuals or activities.

Theologization : Suggested Readings

1. Assmann, Jan. Of God and Gods: Egypt, Israel, and the Rise of Monotheism. George L. Mosse Series in the History of European Culture, Sexuality, and Ideas, 2008.
2. Asad, Talal. Formations of the Secular: Christianity, Islam, Modernity. Stanford University Press, 2003.
3. Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Harcourt, 1959.
4. Taylor, Charles. A Secular Age. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007.
5. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Routledge, 2001.