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In this Discussion
- Andromeda July 2011
- AnneGogh March 2011
- barneyarmstrong July 2011
- caradeo September 2011
- Darhug July 2011
- Galadriel February 2011
- hpiglet March 2011
- lcampbell September 2011
- Loffers September 2011
- Lownote December 2011
- Malsteem February 2011
- Marvin August 2011
- MJG791 August 2011
- sharktacos August 2011
- Tammy February 2011
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- fiction 3
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Does God speak to you through art?
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I am happy to see an arts section in the ooze and it got me thinking, in what ways does art bring you closer to God, or awaken your spirituality? How does God speak to you through it? Any form of art - books, poetry, images, photos, music
Since I left my old church, very modern, fairly plain, and moved to the anglican church, I regularly worship in older buildings, sometimes with stained glass, and icons and the such. Somehow, in a way I can't explain, I find it uplifting and comforting to be surrounded by such images and colour. Perhaps it gives me a sense of a link with the ancient church, and the history of my faith.
In fiction, the Narnia stories, which I have read over and over again, have often made me feel close to God. I love C S Lewis's alternate incarnation of Aslan and at times have found these stories deeply comforting and profound, almost ministering to me even. I can't think of any other work of fiction that has this effect on me. There doesn't seem to be an awful lot of great Christian fiction out there (The New Kind of Christian series I don't really see as fiction in the same sense - more a device employed to express a viewpoint).
And you? -
You might like C.S. Lewis' "Til We Have Faces." It's an amazing retelling of Cupid and Psyche.
I don't have thoughts on your other question yet. I'll have to think about it. :) -
Galadriel, I've not heard of that one. I will definitely look it up. I read The Screwtape Letters but found it pretty hard-going. I have The Great Divorce on my wish list.
Malsteem I couldn't find that exact title. Is it "Art and the Bible" by Schaeffer (which I just looked up on amazon and which looks really interesting)
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Hmm yeah. Until we have faces is good.
Also, Madeleine L'Engle wrote a book called _Walking on Water_ it's on expressions of faith and art. Also, Andromeda, I'd highly recommend the graphic novels of Doug tenNapel to you. He's a prominent Christian in the comics/cartooning community. And also happens to be responsible for Earthworm Jim. Anyway, he does a very good job of not being too "contemporary christian fiction" about his graphic novels. They are beautiful, and funny.
That said, I think I've had some of the most beautiful holy moments getting lost inside a painting or a sculpture.
~HThe Imponderable Archon of the Pithy Response -
Andromeda, I can relate to you talking about how uplifting it is to be surrounding by beautiful images and color, like you're finding in the Anglican church. Perhaps the purpose of beauty is to give us pause and connect our hearts to God, and beauty resides in music, art and nature. I just recently bought a figurine of Saint Anne with the Blessed Mother as a little girl. It's a beautiful piece, and whenever my eyes land on it, my spirit is filled with kind of a quiet joy and love.
