PhD in Divinity - Religion, Literature, and Visual Culture in Chicago United States | University of Chicago

The study of Religion, Literature, and Visual Culture examines how religions intersect with various cultural expressions, particularly through art. This interdisciplinary approach employs poetics, aesthetics, and interpretive theories to explore both how religions utilize human imagination and how creative expression inherently connects with religious themes. The Divinity School's program in this field holds the distinction of being the nation's first and longest-running initiative of its kind. Originally established by Preston Roberts and later shaped by Nathan Scott as "Theology and Literature," the program evolved into "Religion and Literature" during the 1960s. Over time, it expanded to encompass comparative studies, literary theory (including hermeneutics and aesthetics), and the intersections between literature and other artistic disciplines. The program's current name reflects the addition of art history faculty and growing scholarly focus on visual arts and cinema. Historically and today, the program maintains strong connections with other Divinity School departments and University-wide academic units. Simply put: while the program critically examines the relationship implied by the "and" in its title, it deliberately avoids prescribing any single interpretation of that connection.