Making Nothing Happen

Making Nothing Happen is a conversation between five poet-theologians who are broadly within the Christian tradition - Nicola Slee, Ruth Shelton, Mark Pryce, Eleanor Nesbitt and Gavin D'Costa. Together they form The Diviners - a group which has been meeting together for a number of years for poetry, and theological and literary reflection. Setting the context with their autobiographies, personal writing processes and diverse Christian backgrounds, as well as scholarship and experience, each poet offers an illuminating reflection on how they understand the relation between poetry and faith, rooting their reflections in their own writing, and illustrating discussion with a selection of their own poems. The poets open up many issues for deeper exploration and reflection, including: the nature of creativity and the distinction between divine and human creation; the creative process as a process of exploration, epiphany and revelation; craft and labour in the writing process; the forging and problematising of identity through the writing process; diverse ways in which the arts can reflect, challenge and dialogue with faith and faith can inform and challenge the arts; the exercise of power and voice in poetry and faith; and ways in which race, gender, and culture interact with and shape poetic and theological discourse.This book will be of interest to poets and theologians, to all who read poetry and are interested in the connections between literature and faith, to those seeking inspiration for preaching, liturgy and pastoral care, and to those committed to the practice and nurturing of a contemplative attitude to life in which profound attention and respect are offered to words and to the creative Word at work.