Three three-letter words in three recent novels in three different languages: God, sex and joy

• Main Authors: Christo J.S. Lombaard, Ilze Jansone
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: AOSIS 2017-01-01
• Series: Verbum et Ecclesia
• Subjects: Religion; sexuality; joy; literature; Houellebecq; �olude; Phillips
• Online Access: http://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/VE/article/view/1685

<p>In this article, the authors propose to analyse the ways in which religion and sexuality are related to one another in three recent novels: (1) Fransi Phillips�s <em>Die donker god</em> (2007), (2) Inga �olude�s <em>Santa Biblia</em> (2013) and (3) Michel Houellebecq�s <em>Soumission</em> [English translation: <em>Submission</em>] (2015). In each case, the novels are briefly placed within their respective literary cultures (Afrikaans, Latvian and French) in order to offer a contextually sensitive analysis. After each of the novels has been discussed related to the three related topoi of God, sex and joy, some comparative remarks are offered in conclusion.</p><p><strong>Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: </strong>In this contribution, from the theological field of Spirituality Studies, the field of Comparative Literature is approached, seeking to identify aspects of Religiosity and Sexuality from the perspective of Post-Secularity.</p>