The evangelical imagination

Abstract This paper addresses a surprising phenomenon in the evangelical theological classroom. Evangelical theological students often approach theology as an exclusively analytic subject, failing to use imaginative criteria in “doing theology.” Specifically, they fail to use their literary imaginations or what some call narrative imagination. The phenomenon is surprising because of the Bible's place as the central theological text for evangelicals. The Bible, in turn, is a literary text that aims at its reader's literary imagination. In this paper, I review how a creative writing assignment better positioned students to glean the Bible's theological teaching. That is, how a creative arts assignment helps students do theology imaginatively.