The term "spiritual literature" has several interpretations. Firstly, it can be a number of books designed to encourage a person to think about the meaning of life. And in a narrower understanding - these are the works of holy ascetics, in which they describe their life path. Let's see which books can be considered spiritual.
Spiritual and moral literature: definition and its tasks
The main criterion for spiritual literature can be considered its conformity to the gospel spirit. This means that all books on this topic should primarily reflect the essence of biblical principles. Spiritual literature raises the eternal problem of being, provides an answer to many philosophical and religious questions, and also develops moral qualities in the character of its reader. Among other things, such a fiction very often describes the life of saints, prophets and always preaches the foundations of a particular religion. In simple terms, spiritual books are food for our souls.
The main task of spiritual books is to awaken in a person all spiritual qualities, to develop moral values, and, finally, to encourage a person to fulfill religious laws. Indeed, in almost every religion there is a code of covenants that a believer should follow.
Features of moral literature
Perhaps the distinguishing feature of spiritual literature is the religious inclination of its books, in which philosophical questions are raised. Spiritual literature, as a rule, appears more in the epic genre, that is, the lyrics are practically absent. This genre includes parables, various historical chronicles, descriptions of the life of the holy prophets, sermons and works on the structure of the afterlife and what fate awaits each person after death.
Books of spiritual literature can be divided into several groups:
- canonical literature (holy books, Bible, Quran, etc.);
- liturgical (Psalter, Word, etc.);
- theological literature (theological treatises);
- religious education (Orthodox explanatory prayer book);
- religious-journalistic (sermons of the holy fathers, the teachings of the elders, etc.);
- religiously popular (stories, tales and even tales with instructive meaning).
Recently, an increasing number of books have been devoted to the issues of raising children. Such literature gives advice and guidance to parents on how to properly raise their children, in what environment to bring them up so that they grow up to be good people.
Most Popular Spiritual Books
In addition to religious spiritual books, spiritual literature is presented in other genre compositions. These books not only change the view of many things, but also introduce the reader to virtues such as love, kindness, honor and dignity.
Spiritual and fiction - this is how you can define those works of great Russian writers in which the author conveys unshakable Christian values through the main characters and their life paths . There are a number of works of Russian classics that everyone should read, regardless of their religious beliefs. Here are the most famous: “War and Peace” by L. N. Tolstoy, many stories by A. P. Chekhov, “The Master and Margarita” by M. A. Bulgakov, from foreign literature - novels by Ernest Hemingway (“For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “ The Old Man and the Sea "), as well as Dante (" The Divine Comedy "), Erich Maria Remarque and others.
Despite the fact that these works do not have a religious context, they nevertheless touch upon the most important questions of being: what is the meaning of life and what happens to a person’s soul after death?
The role of spiritual literature in the life of modern man
It's no secret that nowadays it is more difficult than ever for people to find free time for something, and especially for reading books. Perhaps, precisely because modern people read little or do not open books of spiritual literature, people in the world are becoming more selfish - everyone is trying to get their own benefit, while forgetting about others.
However, we can safely say that spiritual literature plays a huge role in the life of any person. Thanks to reading spiritual books, inner spiritual qualities develop, and the best traits of a person are awakened, such as, for example, kindness, mercy and love. After all, spiritual books preach the Gospel covenants, and the covenant of love for one's neighbor is considered the basic law of the Bible. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” is the main commandment that affirms the whole law and the prophets.
So, it turns out that such a literature is capable of inducing reflection on the meaning of life. Spiritual and moral education, as well as in the upbringing of moral values and the formation of a correct worldview, spiritual books perform the most important functions.