The Calvinist Paradox in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Literature

The relationship between theology and literature in Scotland from the mid eighteenth to the late nineteenth century is explored in this chapter through a consideration of the writing of Robert Burns, Susan Ferrier, Catherine Sinclair, and Margaret Oliphant. All are authors whose work has undergone re-appraisal in terms of its status and the way it reflects religious themes from a Reformed perspective. Four aspects of theological interest are covered: the significance of denominational allegiance; the tension between the influence of the family home and the ministry of the church on religious belief; the role of eschatology in literature; and the appropriateness of literature as a vehicle for theological instruction and debate. The writers under discussion offer contrasting, critical, yet committed insights into these areas which contribute to our understanding of contemporary theological debates.