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I am fascinated in religion and theology and what people believe.

My degree in theology was an important part of my formation.

I'm very interested in religion as something to study, but I'm not a religious person in the slightest.

Theology is endlessly interesting in that you can study it without believing in anything. I do believe, but you don't have to. I got very caught up in the 11th-century monasticism and the Cistercians. My dissertation was about Aelred of Rievaulx and one of his books.

Theology is a science of mind applied to God.

I like major theology. I like Karl Barth, and I like John Calvin, and I like Martin Luther. The scale of thinking and the power of integration that they're capable of from thinking in that scale is something that's really unique to theology.

I never was religious, really, but I'm very interested in religion.

I'm an ecumenical reader, grew up with all sorts of fiction, teach writing, went to the Iowa Writers' Workshop, so my tastes and interests are broad.

I'm very passionate about philosophy and religion.

I'm fascinated by religion, but I'm not particularly religious.