Divine Generosity and Human Creativity: Theology through Symbol, Painting and Architecture

by David Brown, Christopher R. Brewer (Editor), Robert MacSwain (Editor)

Partly in a desire to defend divine freedom and partly because it is seen as the only way of preserving a distinctive voice for theology, much contemporary theology has artificially restricted revelation and religious experience, effectively cutting off those who find God beyond the walls of the Church. Against this tendency, David Brown argues for divine generosity and a broader vision of reality that sees God deploying symbols (literary, visual and sacramental) as a means of mediating between the divine world and our own material existence. A sustained argument for divine interaction and more specifically the ways in which God speaks in the wider imaginative world, this volume calls for a careful listening exercise since symbols are richer and more open in their possibilities than their users often suppose. Not only is this true of the imagery of Scripture, even inanimate objects like buildings or hostile but creative artists can have important things to say to the believing Christian. An ideal introduction that also moves the conversation forward, this volume addresses foundations, the multivalent power of symbols, artists as theologians and meaning in religious architecture.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2017

About the author

David^^^^Brown

Reviews

[Audrey Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the majority of it!

I really loved this work at first and pieces of it really captured the importance of seeing artists as theologians. Brown captures the importance of symbols and the vital understanding that art of all kinds including his specialty of architecture embody as much of our faith as our words. The parts that I questioned were primarily his critique of many things contemporary whether art or social perspectives. It would have put him much more ahead of our time had he lifted up his contemporary scholars, thinkers, and artists. I would still certainly recommend to anyone looking for the connection between art and anesthetics and faith and spirituality.