Saints, Sinners, and Steinbeck

John Steinbeck never claimed to be an orthodox believer. Yet beneath the gritty realism of The Grapes of Wrath, the sweeping drama of East of Eden, and the shoreline antics of Cannery Row, his writing is saturated with biblical cadence, scriptural allegory, and an unrelenting search for moral truth.

Steinbeck lived alongside society's castaways, drunks, and working hands—writing about flawed human beings with profound dignity, tenderness, and moral weight. Was he a secular critic of religious hypocrisy? A quiet theologian of common grace? Or an artist wrestling with the eternal struggle between good and evil?

Join The Steinbeck Experience and Carmel Presbyterian Church for an evening of conversation exploring the spiritual undercurrents, moral dilemmas, and enduring humanity of California’s greatest storyteller.

Featuring a wide-ranging, onstage dialogue between Rev. Mark Stryker (theologian, retired PCUSA pastor, and literary scholar) and John Holland (Executive Director of The Steinbeck Experience), the evening will examine:

• How biblical rhythms and metaphors shaped Steinbeck’s signature prose.
• The meaning of timshel ("thou mayest") and the sacred burden of human choice in East of Eden.
• How Steinbeck found dignity, holiness, and redemption in the most broken places.
• The shared territory where classic literature, faith traditions, and human experience meet.

Rev. Mark Stryker

Admission is free, but space is limited. Due to the capacity of the Carmel Presbyterian Church sanctuary, please reserve your advanced ticket. 

A brief audience Q&A will follow the presentation.