The Sacred Desert is a reflection on the role of the desert in theology, history, literature, art and film.
An original reflection on the role of the desert in theology, history, literature, art and film.
Discusses figures as diverse as Jesus, the early Christian Desert Fathers, T.E. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Wim Wenders and Jim Crace.
Makes connections across millennia of desert literature.
Deepens the reader's understanding of the desert as a real place, as an interior space, and as a textual site,
Concludes with comments on the recent conflicts in Iraq.
Written in a readable and engaging style.
Foreword by David E. Klemm. Preface.
List of illustrations.
1. Introduction: Meeting Points.
2. The Bible, Schoenberg, and Heidegger.
3. The Desert Fathers: Wandering and Miracles.
4. Time and Memory, Wind and Space: The Desert and Mysticism.
5. Mysticism and Modernity: Thomas Merton meets Don Cupitt.
6. The Literature of the Desert: Travellers and Poets.
7. The Literature of the Desert: Novelists.
8. Artists: Georgia O'Keefe, Bill Viola and Abstract Expressionism.
9. Films of the Desert: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Wim Wenders, Claire Dennis.
10. Desert Theology and Total Presence: Poets William Blake, T.S. Eliot and Yves Bonnefoy meet Hegel and Altizer.
11. Conclusion: Meeting Point.
Postscript: The Desert and the Recent Wars in Iraq.
Bibliography.
Index
