Reading as Spiritual Experience: Theological, Affective, and Cognitive Approaches

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

One more reading is required to improve the English language of the article. Otherwise, the article is impressive. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is better to read the whole work once again keeping in mind the English language. 

Author Response

Please see attachment 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author has provided a very compelling paper. While the topic of literature and religious experience is not particularly new, the subject remains timely. Given the author's attempt to connect the value of the act of reading and experiencing literature (and music) to William James, I wonder if they might consider exploring the historic difficulties the Church has had with aesthetic value. 

Beyond what has been mentioned, perhaps the author might consider more mention of the idea of transcendence as has been discussed about various novelists of the 19th century. Additional insight about contemporary worship music and pentecostalism ight also be useful.

As a practical (editorial) note, there appear to be an issue with 

the formatting of the following quote: "The greater part of my time I spent in reading good books, which was all my comfort; for God never endowed me with the gift of making reflections with the understanding, or with that of using the imagination to any good purpose: my imagination is so sluggish, that even if I would think of, or picture to myself, as I used to labour to picture, our Lord's Humanity, I never could do it" (Teresa, p.59) (151-155).

Author Response

See attachment. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf