Class

Article

College

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Journalism and Communication Department

Faculty Mentor

Paul Crumbley

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

May Swenson was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and because of that influence on her childhood the religion became a part of her identity and work. After leaving home, Swenson began to explore ways of life contrary to Latter-day Saint beliefs. She stopped attending church, took up smoking, had relationships, and tried new things. However, even after she stopped actively participating in the church, Swenson still had an interest in spirituality and religion, and wrote about those topics in her poems. Many of her poems feature thought-provoking descriptions of higher beings, man’s relationship to the universe, creation, and experiences and beliefs from the religion she was raised in. May Swenson ceased to actively participate in the church she was raised in by her devoted parents, but she did not cease to be a deeply religious and spiritual writer.

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-7-2021 12:00 AM

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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Apr 7th, 12:00 AM

The Presence of Spirituality in May Swenson's Poetry

Logan, UT

May Swenson was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and because of that influence on her childhood the religion became a part of her identity and work. After leaving home, Swenson began to explore ways of life contrary to Latter-day Saint beliefs. She stopped attending church, took up smoking, had relationships, and tried new things. However, even after she stopped actively participating in the church, Swenson still had an interest in spirituality and religion, and wrote about those topics in her poems. Many of her poems feature thought-provoking descriptions of higher beings, man’s relationship to the universe, creation, and experiences and beliefs from the religion she was raised in. May Swenson ceased to actively participate in the church she was raised in by her devoted parents, but she did not cease to be a deeply religious and spiritual writer.