tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post678734094622122409..comments2024-03-28T05:13:13.921-04:00Comments on Books, Inq. — The Epilogue: James and Newman ...Frank Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-82234164361588977662010-11-29T12:38:51.134-05:002010-11-29T12:38:51.134-05:00I was reading a book of essays about John Donne...I was reading a book of essays about John Donne's "Holy Sonnets" this morning, as my morning meditation reading. <br /><br />The question of "assent" here reminds me of the heated question, in Donne's time, between Calvin and the council of Trent about free will, and assenting to grace. Calvin was of the opinion that the elect received grace beyond the power of their will to choose; Donne quite disagreed with that, although he did not adopt the Catholic position either.<br /><br />One of the things I like about Donne, and Herbert for that matter, is their poetic approach towards some pretty deep and disputed theological issues which were in rough foment during their times. Both of these poets made very nuanced approaches to the topic, and Donne's wit at times has led people to misunderstand him; many times I don't think he was asserting a doctrinal point in a poem so much as making it so obvious as to subversively question it. As poets are wont.Art Durkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463180236975988432noreply@blogger.com