Literary Theory in Contemplation

As I read over the various literary theories and the elements they were composed of, one distinct phrase continued to come back to me in my ruminations. In a religious perspective literature can be read as though jewels of "eternal truth"can be found within the text. Upon reading this a lightening bolt of personal insight struck me in the very seat in which I currently reside leaving the upholstery rather charred. Reading is (for me) an innately spiritual act. In a multitude of instances books have been soul food, a mode of self-discovery, even a safe haven. Through the lense of limitless characters I have found an ounce of truth. I almost implicitly gasp to make such an audacious claim. For, what is truth ? And yet I dare, because the stories I have read represent one of the most fundamental forms of "truth" I know. Oh, the irony of finding solidified authenticity concerning the human condition in the plights of (in most cases) fictional characters; characters such as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom, Sir Orson Scott Card's Abner Doon and countless others.
Another literary theory that adheres to my sensibilities is the reader response theory. It is only natural to look at a text through glasses that are colored by our own world views, opinions, and subjective experiences. When I look at the above paragraph I just wrote, I can see that this way of looking at literature is already a prevalent component in my interpretive style. Who knew ? A couple of minutes ago I interpreted " eternal truth, " as something completely different than what is customary. For me "truth " had nothing to do with religion, discerning our origin, or the Holy Grail. For me "eternal truth," means enduring characteristics of the human experience.