Final answer:
The criteria for Religious Poetry are the use of religious themes and symbols, expressing devotion and spirituality, and reflecting religious rituals and practices. This genre encompasses a variety of symbolic representations that connect human experiences with spirituality, and the emotional impact is a central aspect of its form and purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
The criteria for Religious Poetry include: use of religious themes and symbols, expressing devotion and spirituality, and reflecting religious rituals and practices. This form of poetry often incorporates elements that evoke a sense of the divine and aim to connect the human experience with a greater spiritual realm. For example, the thesis statement 'The works of ecstatic love poets Rumi, Hafiz, and Kabir use symbols such as a lover's longing and the Tavern of Ruin to illustrate the human soul's desire to connect with God' showcases how religious poetry integrates profound symbolic elements to convey its themes. Symbolism in religious poetry not only relates to individual rituals but also reflects wider cosmological views and the sacred stories that underpin a belief system.
Religious poetry may also embody the personal language of the poet, which might resonate differently with each reader, albeit interpretations must be grounded in the text itself. The emotional impact of religious poetry, much like any poetry, is significant, with the capacity to invoke emotions and perhaps a sensation of connecting with the divine. This is in line with the idea that poetry serves as a tool for self-expression and can carry powerful messages through its artistic form.