Since the middle ages, theology has been interested in the ‘Book of Nature’, essentially a way of seeing the world as a source of spiritual insight. However, in many ways, this notion has been constrained by an understanding of ‘nature’ that does not include the urban environment. And while there are a few outliers in this tradition, and even more contemporary writers working to redress this issue, for my part I believe that there’s a promising way to develop a truly urban spirituality through a theological engagement with urban fantasy writing.
Urban fantasy is known for its unique combination of magic and metropolis, secrets and cities, skulduggery and skyscrapers, but in addition to all these things—and so many others—that make it so enjoyable, urban fantasy offers a plethora of resources and lures for readings of a specifically theological sort. And while I am convinced that there is a host of fruitful explorations that would find fertile soil in the wide field of urban fantasy, what is of particular interest to me is the ways that urban fantasy provides a chance to explore spiritualized perception within a specifically urbanized context.
In this paper, I will offer a theological engagement with the work of a handful of established urban fantasy writers—from Kate Griffin, whom I will be focusing on, to Simon R. Green, Kevin Hearne, and China Miéville, all (and more) of whom will make at least an appearance or two—that lays the groundwork for a uniquely urban spirituality. With the help of recent work in theology and an architect or two, I will show how urban fantasy not only offers a case study for urban (re)enchantment, but also a fully spiritualized way of seeing, and being in, cities.
About the presenterThomas Koen
Thomas Koen studies Demonology with a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University and has recently finished a Master’s degree in Education from Peabody College out of Vanderbilt University.