Theology and Religion in the Works of Stephen King

Call for Papers

Stephen King has aptly been labeled ‘The King of Horror’ and is one of the most prolific and successful authors in history. With a literary career spanning over 50 years, King has published over 70 novels, won countless awards for his writing, and had more than thirty books top the NY Times best seller list. He has sold 350+ million books in his career. His books cover the span of human experiences and delve into genres like horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, time travel, western, creature story, and many others. 

An author with such a rich catalog deserves a robust theological treatment. His work is fertile ground for a high-level theological analysis, presenting questions of community, religion, religious hypocrisy, corrupt power, sin, personal demons, heroism, resistance, and liberation. King was raised a Methodist and confesses a belief in God, but also admits to having serious questions about organized religion. Faith and religion remain common topics in his stories, making a deep theological investigation necessary. 

There have been attempts to do this previously. Cowan’s work, America’s Dark Theologian and Held’s edited volume, Stephen King and Philosophy, seek a popular level treatment of King’s catalog. (Authors should consider these works when proposing and writing to see if engagement is necessary). However, this volume will do something else, specifically high-level academic engagement by reputable scholars engaging with content they love as fans. This is a needed volume in the series, and it can bring a new level of theological conversation around Kings work. 

This will be a robust volume with three sections:

Part 1: Classic King

This section is open to proposals on any of King’s writings—his novels, short stories, or non-fiction books. I plan to feature some chapters on his most prolific works, like The Stand, Salem’s Lot, It, and 11/22/63, but will also select chapters on lesser-known works that contribute meaningfully to the discussion of theology and religion.

Part 2: The Dark Tower Series

His self-proclaimed magnum opus, The Dark Tower Series, is an ambitious tale written over 25 years of real time and has sold over 30 million copies, making it one of the ten bestselling fantasy series ever written. Part 2 of this volume will be devoted to this series. With colorful characters—Roland Deschain and his ka-tet: Eddie, Sussanna, Jake, and Oy, as well as the allies and villains they encounter along the way—gripping narrative, and unique fantasy elements, this series deserves its own treatment, so a number of essays will be selected for this section.

Part 3: King and Cinema 

Around 55 King stories have been adapted into feature films, bringing numerous Academy Awards nominations and several unforgettable films, like the Shawshank Redemption, Misery, and The Shining. This section seeks to interact theologically with the films and television series inspired by King stories, including the interplay between the novels and the on-screen creations, where appropriate.

Some potential topics could include the following:

Part 1: Classic King

• Apocalyptic Imagination and Prophetic Tradition in The Stand
• The Unclean Place: Pollution, Purity, and the Demonic in Salem’s Lot
• Deliver Us from Evil: The Lord’s Prayer as Structural Theology in The Mist
• Job, Theodicy, and Innocent Suffering in Pet Sematary
• Holy Foolishness and the Prophetic Imagination in The Dead Zone
• Disharmony with Nature in Cujo and the Calming of the Storm 
• The Institute and the Manger: Special Children in the Canon and Non-canonical Infancy Narratives

Part 2: The Dark Tower Series

• The Gunslinger as Christological Figure: Sacrifice, Loneliness, and Messianic Vocation in Roland Deschain
• The Gunslinger and the Foundations of the Earth: Cosmic Pillar, Sacred Center, and Roland’s Quest
• Many Worlds, One Beam: Multiverse Theory and the Unity of Creation in the Dark Tower Mythology
• Ka and the Kingdom: Fate, Free Will, and the Sovereignty of God Across Mid-World
• Wolves of the Calla and the Slaughter of the Innocents: Herod, Power, and the Protection of Children

Part 3: King and Cinema 

• Redeeming the Time: Incarnation, Memory, and Moral Witness in The Shawshank Redemption
• Carrie White, Ritual Humiliation, and the Theology of Shame
• Get Busy Living: Resurrection Theology and the Harrowing of Hell in Frank Darabont’s King
• The Danse Macabre: On the Theological Value of the Horror Genre 
• Competing Gospel Voices: The Shining on the page and on the Screen
• ‘All Manner of Thing Shall Be Well’: Suffering, Providence, and Julian of Norwich in The Green Mile

Please submit abstracts (or letters of interest) and CVs no later than September 1, 2026 to FoxN@Crown.edu. (Acceptance notifications to be sent by September 20). First drafts will be due by March 1, 2027. Final manuscript will be delivered to publisher in Summer, 2027.