Written by: Emma Boughman
Nationally renowned author Karen Swallow Prior visited Southern Adventist University’s campus last week. Prior is the author of “On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books,” and her writing has been featured in esteemed publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times.
On Wednesday evening, she spoke about conversion of faith and evangelical Christianity at Southern Scholars’ second annual Benjamin McArthur Endowed Lecture Series. The next day, she was the plenary speaker for the university’s first Illuminate Conference, an art and faith symposium that took place on campus Thursday and Friday.
Ella Quijada, a sophomore psychology major and Southern Scholar, attended Prior’s Wednesday session, which delved into the evangelical movement and how it continues to affect American culture and religion. At least 100 people attended the lecture, according to Quijada, who said she especially enjoyed the Q&A session.
“I got to know her a little bit better,” said Quijada, who wrote an article about the lecture for Spectrum magazine, in an interview with the Accent.
Southern Scholars hosted a luncheon the next day to speak with Prior about her presentation. The Accent attended and asked Prior what she hopes attendees took away from the McArthur lecture. She said she wanted listeners to learn the importance of understanding genuine conversion and fully knowing their beliefs.
Prior is a Christian and often mixes her beliefs into her work. She writes a monthly column for Religion News Services, and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today. Her general advice to students is to genuinely seek the kingdom of God.
“There are so many opportunities and rich and wonderful things that we can do, but doing them by seeking the kingdom of God is what makes them the most meaningful,” Prior said during the luncheon.
On Thursday morning, Prior presented Illuminate Conference’s plenary session, titled “The Good Life in Great Books.” The Accent attended and estimated that around 300 people attended.
Lucas Patterson, associate director for strategic partnerships and organizer of Illuminate Conference, announced before Prior spoke that the audience represented 15 states. Before Prior spoke, Jason Emmanuel Petty, a Christian rap and poetry artist also known as Propaganda, shared a poem to promote a concert that was scheduled for later in the conference.
Prior spoke about finding the image of a good life through books, calling humans “storytelling creatures.” She used the example of “Pride and Prejudice” and explained how readers of the classic work by Jane Austen understand the story’s world through the eyes of Elizabeth, the main character, misunderstanding things as she does.
The story of “Pride and Prejudice,” published in 1813, revolves around Elizabeth Bennett and her family as they navigate love and friendship. It follows her blossoming, albeit bumpy, relationship with the well-off Mr. Darcy. Swallow discussed how readers trust Elizabeth’s initial judgment of Mr. Darcy, noting how they start to realize alongside the protagonist that Mr. Darcy might be better than he seemed at first.
The “good life” can be found in the virtues of great literature by those who improve their reading skills, according to Prior. She continually used book and play references to support her argument, such as writings by George Saunders and excerpts from “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. At the end of her session, she concluded that it is far better to be kind to people by treating them like family than to just be nice.
Heidi Burke, a freshman history-secondary education major, attended Prior’s plenary session and told the Accent she resonated with the ending, when Prior spoke about death and highlighted the humility that comes with experiencing grief and allowing others to be there in moments of vulnerability.
Prior was one of almost 30 presenters from various disciplines who spoke at the Illuminate Conference. The symposium featured over 40 sessions.
