Tag Archives: George Herbert

Hawthorne Explains the Eternal Sin

By Robin Bates | Published: June 5, 2021

Hawthorne explores what Jesus means by the “eternal sin” in a number of stories, including “Scarlet Letter.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

God as a Stern but Loving Gardener

By Robin Bates | Published: March 5, 2021

Herbert’s Lenten poem “Paradise,” about the pruning necessary to ensure growth, literally prunes the line endings.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments closed

A Love Beyond Knowledge & Fame

By Robin Bates | Published: August 15, 2020

George Herbert’s “Pearl” explains how he chose a spiritually rewarding life over a promising court life.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged | Comments closed

Scraping One’s Knees on Jacob’s Ladder

By Robin Bates | Published: July 18, 2020

Denise Levertov draws on the Jacob’s dream about a stairway to heaven to capture poetry’s transcendent qualities.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Literature’s Unique Spiritual Insights

By Robin Bates | Published: February 15, 2020

An extended reflection upon the relationship between religion and literature.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

The Herbert Poem that Converted Weil

By Robin Bates | Published: January 18, 2020

George Herbert’s “Love (3)” prompted a religious breakthrough in French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

The Real Temple Can’t Be Destroyed

By Robin Bates | Published: November 16, 2019

Like Jesus, George Herbert (in “Scion”) sees the temple, not as a physical structure, but as the human heart.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments closed

Standing Beside Us, Even As We Grieve

By Robin Bates | Published: November 2, 2019

In a sonnet written for All Souls’ Day, Malcolm Guite writes that, when we grieve, we are supported by all who have passed on, who reflect Christ’s light.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments closed

Cheer and Tune My Heartless Breast

By Robin Bates | Published: October 19, 2019

About prayer, Jesus at one point said to pay as though you are a desperate widow before an indifferent judge. Much of Herbert’s poetry sees God in this light.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , | Comments closed