The Beauty of the Faith: Using Aesthetics for Christian Apologetics

by Joseph D. Wooddell

Nearly everyone finds beauty compelling, so Christian apologists should devise ways to present an "aesthetic Christian apologetic" Nearly all apologists admit that the beauty of a life well lived and the beauty of the Christian community (along with the use of media and the arts) are not only helpful for apologetics but essential in a postmodern culture. In fact, it is frustrating to see how many apologists mention the need for such an approach but go on devoting most of their energies to traditional approaches. This book is different. It clearly shows the pros and cons of traditional approaches and offers a fresh perspective as well, arguing that beauty is the most compelling apologetic, and suggesting ways to implement such an approach. It demonstrates how Western culture arrived in its current unfortunate situation and uses both Scripture and figures like Athenagoras and Jonathan Edwards to challenge current views on apologetics.

130 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2010

Reviews

[J.J. Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first three chapters are an overview of the different approaches to apologetics which attempt to show why arguing from beauty is a valid yet often neglected approach. I was already convinced of this so I lightly skimmed those chapters. Chapter's 4 and beyond were a wonderful exploration of how Christians can point to God's truth through beauty. I will be referencing this book and the sources it gleams insights from often.