Fictional transfiguration of Jesus : images of Jesus in literature

Abstract

Over the years the literary world has been one of the most productive and creative sources of Jesus interpretation. This article gives an overview of some aspects of developments in this field with reference to the African and Afrikaner contexts. The way in which Jesus is fictionally transformed may reflect the influence of scholarly research, popular and innovative Jesus interpretations, existential questions, and cultural fluctuations, or simply a celebration of imagination. The relationship between theology and literature is vital to both fields. Theology is challenged by the freedom of the novel and the novel stimulated by theological findings. After dealing with some categories of fictional narratives, a few examples are discussed. The article gives attention to Jesus in postmodern novels and in postcolonial literature. An African novel is referred to and then Jesus is dealt with more extensively in Afrikaans poems. Examples are given from the work of Sheila Cussons, Breyten Breytenbach and Adam Small. The article closes with the sentiment that Jesus interpretations remain a critical and creative comment on humankind and its religion.