Christians Must Reflect on Meaning, Purpose of the Arts in Human Life
CHRISTIAN POST
March 21, 2011
SINGAPORE - Roland Chia is the Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College. He writes: Since the Reformation in the 16th century, when leaders of the church destroyed statues and other works of art to stem out and prevent idolatry, Protestant Christianity has always been suspicious of the arts. It must be clarified that the iconoclasm of the Reformers is not an indication of their opposition to the arts, but only its abuse. Because art is human activity and product, the best place for the Christian to begin to reflect on its meaning and purpose is the account of the creation of man in the first chapters of Genesis. As bearers of the divine image, human beings are created co-creators, capable of fashioning things that are at once meaningful and useful. In addition, Genesis 1:28 records what some theologians have described as the cultural mandate: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every creature that moves on the ground.” This command reveals the true vocation of human beings as bearers of the divine image and as created co-creators. The command covers a broad spectrum of human activity, including the arts. [link]
March 21, 2011
SINGAPORE - Roland Chia is the Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College. He writes: Since the Reformation in the 16th century, when leaders of the church destroyed statues and other works of art to stem out and prevent idolatry, Protestant Christianity has always been suspicious of the arts. It must be clarified that the iconoclasm of the Reformers is not an indication of their opposition to the arts, but only its abuse. Because art is human activity and product, the best place for the Christian to begin to reflect on its meaning and purpose is the account of the creation of man in the first chapters of Genesis. As bearers of the divine image, human beings are created co-creators, capable of fashioning things that are at once meaningful and useful. In addition, Genesis 1:28 records what some theologians have described as the cultural mandate: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every creature that moves on the ground.” This command reveals the true vocation of human beings as bearers of the divine image and as created co-creators. The command covers a broad spectrum of human activity, including the arts. [link]
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