Religious Reading: Its Application to Witold Gombrowicz's Cosmos and the Search for Its Relevance for Theological Anthropology and Spirituality

The aim of this study is to introduce the concept of religious reading as asocial-contextual approach to literature. This approach, primarily drawing on the work of Robert Detweiler, is elucidated in the introduction. Its efficacy is demonstrated through the practical interpretation of one seminal work of European fiction: Gombrowicz’s Cosmos. The conclusion outlines the value of this reading mode for theological anthropology and spirituality, which can be summarized in four key points: (I) cultivating aChristian pre-understanding through a religious reading of fictional works; (II) fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between theology and literary studies, thereby unveiling new interpretative avenues for theology; (III) gaining insights into the construction of meaning and discovering intersections of transcendence within texts; and (IV) enhancing one’s imagination, intertwining intellectual exploration with spiritual experience.