Our church has embarked on a study of Christians and pop culture. As you can probably guess, I have some strong opinions on this, and I'm sure some in our study group will have strongly held but disparate opinions about how people of faith participate in and consume popular culture. I look forward to lively debates about what music, TV, and movies mean to believers.
I'm interested in what defines "good" art, what kind of work represents God's glory, and if it can only do so if the artist intended it. I want to know what "Christian music," means and if it's important.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting about books I've read, music I've heard, movies I've seen that I think pinpoint what critically thinking believers can find about God in works created without that express intent.
In the meantime, what do you think? Is there such a thing as Christian art? What makes art good? How as Christians should we participate in the world around us? And if so, how?
One of the most important books I've read on this subject - Christian art - is Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water. It was SO revealing for me, and , now that I'm thinking about it, would be worthy of re-read. I highly recommend it. It was very freeing for me years ago and also gave me freedom to enjoy GOOD music (and movies, and books)!
ReplyDeleteSam, thanks for the comments. It's funny that we need permission to enjoy "good" art. I think the fear comes from a closed faith, where we don't think but are spoon fed our opinions. I, too, love L'Engle's book "Walking on Water." In fact, I pulled it out to refer to during the writing of these next few posts.
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