Are the arts as trivial and inconsequential in and for the church as their place in the Protestant church would seem to indicate? Being an arts organization, perhaps Renew the Arts has overestimated the crucial value of the arts in the church out of some unwittingly self-serving desire to think of ourselves and our work more highly than we ought. We’re certainly willing to explore this possibility and examine again why we’re so dedicated to this cause. Toward that end, in this our season 1 finale, Justus and Michael ask themselves the question, “Are we overstating the importance of the arts?”
Stay tuned at the end to hear “For Senses” by Civilized Creature off the record Of the Uncaused Cause. We think the song addresses the crucial importance of receiving Jesus in every way He has presented Himself to us—sensory and non-sensory. Washingtonian Ryan Lane heads up Civilized Creature, and he has been gracious enough to let us use his track “Refiner’s Fire” as our theme song for this season. We’re so thankful for his generosity, and we hope you all check out his prolific output of edifying music.
Yeah, it is difficult to overstate something that has been too long and too far understated.
Theology begins with a creative God. Not just that God is, but God created.
One objection I come against is that art is focused on emotions and emotions lie. Never mind the wrongheaded presupposition that art is only concerned with emotion, it isn’t the emotions that lie, it is our intellect that lies about our emotions. The most recent neurological research by the likes of Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, which she discusses in her book _How Emotions are Made_, illustrates how important art is in constructing our emotions.
Joe
I too have received this objection. I responded to it at some length in an article “How Christian Rationalism Turned Me into a Psychopath”: http://michaelminkoff.com/psychopathy-christian-rationalism/. The connection between emotions and the arts is vital, and one major reason why the arts are so under-emphasized for sure.
Really good article. Exactly as I’ve tried (but failed) to articulate it myself on occasion. Good thoughtful comments as well.
Joe
What is kind of ironic is the idea of emotions in the Charismatic circles I traveled post my Presbyterian and Southern Baptist days, just before my None days. They will talk about how emotions lie as well. What the non-Charismatic types call emotional worship they will say is the Spirit of God, not emotion. And they get just as legalistic about this as any systematic approach.
Joe
I just got a copy of How Emotions are Made. Thanks for the recommendation!