Sounding the Depths

by Jeremy S. Begbie (Editor)

'Sounding the Depths shows clearly why it is essential for the Church to engage with the arts, and how the Theology Through the Arts project has helped to bring to birth some striking examples of Christian art.' Patrick Sherry, Professor of Philosophical Theology, Lancaster University Emerging out of an international arts festival held in Cambridge in September 2000, Sounding the Depths brings a number of prominent artists (including sculptors, musicians and filmmakers) together with theologians, and reflects the intensive conversations and collaboration between them that characterised the event itself. While the essays engage with the considerable variety of ways in which the arts can enrich the theological enterprise, they are informed throughout by the conviction that theology not only can benefit from the arts, but that it actually needs them. Indeed, while some have claimed that to allow.; the arts a substantial place in theology means that theology becomes less rigorous, this book holds out for the opposite that the arts can generate greater rigour and precision, and thus help theology to be more appropriate to its own subject-matter, which is the disciplined pursuit of wisdom in particular practical contexts. This is a book that will be mandatory reading for all students of theology and the arts, and will also have strong appeal to anybody with an interest in how theology engages appropriately both with other disciplines and with contemporary culture in general. Jeremy Begbie, Lorraine Cavanagh, Jonathan Clarke, David F Ford. Nigel Forde, Vanessa Herrick, John Inge, James MacMillan, Alistair I McFadyen, Megan O'Connor, Michael O'Connor, Ben Quash, Paul Spicer, Michael Symmons Roberts, Jo Bailey Wells, Rowan Williams, Nicholas Woiterstorff. Tons Wright Jeremy Begbie is Reader in Theology and Associate Director of the Institute of Theology, Imagination and the Arts at the University of St Andrews. He is also Vice-Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and an affiliated lecturer in divinity in the University of Cambridge. His publications include Theology. Mush. and Time, Voicing Creation's Praise and Beholding the Glory.

Genres: Art

Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

Dr Jeremy Begbie is Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Research Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School, Duke University, where he directs Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts. His primary research interest is the correlation between theology and the arts, in particular the interplay between music and theology. he is also an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Music at the University of Cambridge.

Reviews

[Jason Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Promised much delivered little. Great poem by Michael Symmons Roberts and introductory essay by Begbie. Most of the rest was like 'explaining a joke' - wonder drained in the telling

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book more than the actual book. Basically Jeremy Begbie arranged for the collaboration of artists and theologians to create four separate works of art that interpret and/or communicate some sort of Christian truth. I enjoyed the writings of the artists more than the theologians for the most part. Some of the theologians, in my opinion, tended to take themselves a bit too seriously and go on longer than necessary. Still, this book stirred up all sorts of ideas and increased my desire to see more collaborations among artists and Christians in general with a goal of honoring Christ. I am interested to read more of Jeremy Begbie. His introduction to the book (perhaps the best part) and the mere fact that he thought of this makes me want to hear more of what he is thinking.