The act of reading is fundamental to our understanding of the world and its Creator (the Word made flesh), and numerous studies have shown immersive reading to be an inherently creative and generative endeavor, enabling the reader to imagine more broadly, empathize more deeply, and occupy an expanded view of possibility. But in a world where electronic and social media constantly demand our attention, sap our focus, and crowd out uninterrupted pursuits, how can we better understand and enjoy the formative power of deep reading? What are the possibilities in our time of reading for regeneration?

In her new book, The Scandal of Holiness, Jessica Hooten Wilson challenges the presuppositions of self-help culture and suggests an unusual prescription: that a plan for wholeness and the pursuit of holiness should both include robust reading, and the renewal of imagination in the company of literary saints.

And in his new work Reading Black Books, Claude Atcho discusses the generative capacity for reading great works by often-overlooked black authors from a theological mindset, and the possibilities for better understanding justice, suffering, faithfulness, and love.
 
We invite you to join us for an Online Conversation with Jessica and Claude on Friday March 18 at 1:30pm EST to explore how literature can rehabilitate our imaginations and strengthen us in the pursuit of holiness. 

A special thanks to our event partner: 

We are grateful to our event co-host: