Dr. Jessica Ann Hughes
Writer / Speaker / Professor of English
Welcome…
There’s an old story that begins, “One day, when Jesus was teaching, a lawyer stood up to test him.
“Teacher,” the lawyer asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What does the Law say?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
As an English Professor, that might be my favorite question in the entire Bible.
When Jesus asks the lawyer about his reading of the Law, he is talking about the Torah, the first 5 books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. But most of those books aren’t “laws”… they’re stories. They’re the stories of complicated, broken people and a mysterious God’s unceasing love.
When Jesus asks, “What does the law say” and “How do you read it,” he’s asking questions fit for a literary classroom. He’s suggesting that creative reading is the foundation for living well in the world that God has made. He might even be suggesting that reading well is part of the secret to eternal life.
In this vein, my work centers on how stories shape our imaginations to form lives of justice, grace, and peace. I’m particularly interested in how fiction makes old stories new, be that in the novel’s characterization habits that work to re-enliven Jesus for Victorian readers…or in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan that helps the lawyer re-imagine the law he knows so well.
Interested? Explore the site to learn more about my writing, speaking, and teaching.
grace & peace,
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Writer / Speaker / Professor of English Literature
Writer
& the American environmental tradition
Speaker
Jessica makes sense of complexity in ways that are engaging and accessible for all audiences, challenging them to find renewed faith, joy, and wonder in their own experiences.
Professor
With teaching experience in high schools & colleges around the globe, Jessica fosters intellectual engagement & practical understanding through her teaching & course design.
Topics, Issues, Questions & News
Graduate School Commencement from The University of Notre Dame
On Saturday 14 May, some of my close friends and I chose to "walk" in recognition of our graduation from the University of Notre Dame. While the day was cold (all the better for wearing those academic robes), it was a lovely opportunity to celebrate each of our...
Science, Mystery & The Christian Imagination
Philosopher David Hume should be celebrating his 305th birthday about now. He was born on May 7th (which was April 26th before the Calendar Act of 1750), so his birthday was either this week or the previous week, depending on how you look at it. Hume’s work,...
Standing with Mary on Good Friday
When I was younger, Good Friday inspired me. While I was thankful for Jesus' sacrifice, I viewed it as the heroic act of an individual, independent human being—an adult choosing to give his life for others, which it was. And, such an act is worthy of the highest...