Suggestions for novels about characteristic experiences of religion

[altariel]

The friend of a friend is going to be teaching a comparative religion course at a community college, and has asked for suggestions for reading for the students. Can anyone help? Friend writes:

The intention is to teach the course through literature that shows how religious experience is oriented towards dealing with death. Particularly interested in perspectives from Hindu, Islamic, and Christian (especially Catholic) religious experience...

Further discussion has led to the clarification that the novel need not be "about" death in any obvious sense, but it should give a sense of a religion's characteristic influence on how a character approaches his or her situation. Non-proselytizing works are also high on the list. So far, "Siddhartha" (Hesse) and "The Chosen" (Potok) are on the list, if that helps by way of example.

Comments

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That sounds extremely interesting for things I'm researching at the moment, actually... *wanders of to library catalogue to reserve* Thanks!

[halimede.livejournal.com]

That rec seconded by me. I have a lump in my throat just remembering, and I read it years and years ago too.

My rec, The Fifth Sacred Thing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553373803/qid=1122586583/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/104-3425878-5243948), which deals with an eclectic pagan perspective. I liked it a lot, but judging by the reactions of other people who've read it, I'm not completely sure it works equally well for people completely unfamiliar with pagan symbolism.