The Incarnation of the Poetic Word: Theological Essays on Poetry & Philosophy • Philosophical Essays on Poetry & Theology

by Michael Martin, Therese Schroeder-Sheker, William Desmond (Foreword)

In The Incarnation of the Poetic Word, Michael Martin brings together the worlds of theology, philosophy, and literary studies through the introduction of agapeic criticism, a method of inquiry characterized by reverence and attention, exploring what truly lives in the written word.

Genres: Poetry

140 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2017

Reviews

[Ben Smitthimedhin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of helpful essays demonstrating the importance of what Martin calls "Agapeic Criticism," which is a way of reading the text contemplatively as a window to the being of the author and the Being of God Himself. This requires vulnerability and courage, as readers are allowing the text to mold themselves through the experience of the writer. Reading, then, becomes a "spiritual exercise," whereby the reader encounters the text as a mystery to be contemplated.

The book is somewhat of a reaction against the culture of criticism, which seeks to dismantle and deconstruct everything. The essays deal with a wide range topics, but Martin's ultimate vision is to unite theology, philosophy, and poetry so that the fullness of God's mystery may be revealed to this fragmented age.

[Fr. Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Michael Martin holds nothing back as he unleashes an academic, aesthetic, and prophetic argument against the dead, consumerist criticism of our age. In its place, he seeks to inspire a truly agapeic criticism, and revelatory poetry that centers on personal encounter and the sacramental revelation of the divine through words. The book is a bit dense and uses a lot of philosophical jargon, but presents a vision of poetry and wisdom that absolutely needs to be read by anyone who wants to do real literary criticism or write real poetry in this day and age.

[Joebear Sorich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been pondering on truth, beauty, and goodness for the past couple years pretty rigorously haha I still don’t know much, but what I do think, with much conviction, is that this piece (as well as MM’s other works) is an essential component to the holy & wonderful journey of life. If you seek to immerse yourself in a deeper relationship with the sacred triad of truth, beauty, and goodness then open wide your hearts to the wisdom embedded in this text. Thank you, Michael Martin & enjoy, my fellow reading friends!

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[Aesthetics] is concerned with appearances and not the appearing as such. The Beautiful, on the other hand, is what appears. Its appearing, furthermore, is experienced as personal, as an encounter. An encounter, it must be admitted, with being. With a being."