Sara TothView profile
Associate Professor
Sara Toth is an Associate Professor at the Department of English Literatures and Cultures within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest, Hungary. With a PhD in Literary Studies from ELTE (2004), her academic career spans decades of research at the intersection of literature, religion, and cultural studies. Prior to her academic appointment, she served as Editor-in-Chief at Harmat Publishing House, bringing practical editorial experience to her scholarly work. Dr. Toth earned her MA in English Language and Literature from ELTE in 1991 before completing her doctoral studies there in 2004. Her dissertation, The Other Side of Imagination: Literature and Religion in the Critical Work of Northrop Frye , established the foundation for her ongoing research into the relationship between literary theory and religious thought. Her research focuses on the intricate connections between 18th-20th century British literature, literary theory, and religious studies, with particular expertise in Northrop Frye's critical framework, Protestant spirituality, and the works of contemporary American author Marilynne Robinson. Dr. Toth has made significant contributions to understanding how religious experience manifests in literary form, exploring themes of sacramentality, transcendence, and the sacred-profane dialectic. Her scholarship demonstrates how literary works can serve as vehicles for theological reflection and spiritual exploration, particularly within the Protestant tradition. Analysis of Dr. Toth's recent publications (2020-2025) reveals a sustained engagement with Protestant spirituality, particularly through the lens of North American literature. Her work consistently examines the interplay between literary narrative and theological concepts, with a strong emphasis on Marilynne Robinson's fiction and Paul Tillich's theology. The publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in analyzing how literary form conveys religious experience, with growing attention to specific religious practices (baptism, preaching) and theological concepts (forgiveness, restoration, the sacred). Publication of the Year (shared) - Gaspar Karoli Reformed University (2015) Dr. Toth has served as an opponent at doctoral defenses, including for Palatinus David Levente's dissertation on "Framing the Body, Staging the Gaze" (PPKE, 2009) and Ruth Karin Lévai's work on "The Concept of Truth in Four Works" (ELTE BTK, 2020). She participates in the Fundamentalism research group (2020-present) and the Canadianist research group, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarly conversations. Her language proficiency in English and Spanish supports her international scholarly collaborations and research. As a member of the Central European Association for Canadian Studies, Dr. Toth contributes to cross-cultural academic dialogue. Her current research activities within the Fundamentalism research group demonstrate her ongoing commitment to understanding the complex relationship between religion, literature, and contemporary cultural phenomena. Her work bridges literary scholarship with theological reflection, creating a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to studying the spiritual dimensions of literature.
