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All Things New: Essays on Christianity, culture & the arts
This is a collection of essays on Christianity, culture &
the arts, most of which appeared in Barnabas magazine
over the past decade. The essays are split into 6 sections,
focusing on art & creativity, the artist’s call, literature,
music, cinema and faith & culture. The idea of the
essays is to engage Christians to think through how
their faith impacts their interaction and involvement
with arts & culture, specifcaly in seeing the value of
the imagination, the enrichment creativity brings to all
of society and the delight the arts bring to daily life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeremy W. Johnston is a teacher of English and
classical studies at Hillfeld Strathallan College
and a professor of communications at Mohawk
College. He holds a master’s degree in education
and an honours degree in English literature and
humanities from the University of Western
Ontario. He is the arts columnist for Barnabas
magazine. He has been involved in Christian
education—teaching, preaching and speaking—
at local churches and Christian venues for many
years. Jeremy and his wife, Laurie, have been
homeschooling their four children for over 15
years. They live in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
the arts, most of which appeared in Barnabas magazine
over the past decade. The essays are split into 6 sections,
focusing on art & creativity, the artist’s call, literature,
music, cinema and faith & culture. The idea of the
essays is to engage Christians to think through how
their faith impacts their interaction and involvement
with arts & culture, specifcaly in seeing the value of
the imagination, the enrichment creativity brings to all
of society and the delight the arts bring to daily life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeremy W. Johnston is a teacher of English and
classical studies at Hillfeld Strathallan College
and a professor of communications at Mohawk
College. He holds a master’s degree in education
and an honours degree in English literature and
humanities from the University of Western
Ontario. He is the arts columnist for Barnabas
magazine. He has been involved in Christian
education—teaching, preaching and speaking—
at local churches and Christian venues for many
years. Jeremy and his wife, Laurie, have been
homeschooling their four children for over 15
years. They live in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2018
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About the author
Jeremy W. Johnston
3 books30 followersJEREMY W. JOHNSTON teaches English, history, and classical studies at Hillfield Strathallan College. He also teaches humanities courses as an adjunct professor and lecturer at Heritage College and Seminary, Redeemer University, and Mohawk College. He holds a master's degree in education and an honours degree in English literature and humanities from the University of Western Ontario. For over a decade, he served as the arts columnist for Barnabas magazine, which is published by the Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Canada. He has been involved in Christian education-teaching, preaching and speaking-at local churches and Christian venues for many years. Jeremy and his wife, Laurie, have been homeschooling their four children for over 20 years. They live in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2022
What do you give to the young person in youth group who is drawn to the arts but has never been taught how to integrate them into their Christian faith? What about the Christian college student who is drawn to good literature but feels that spending much of any time on such 'fiction' means making no contribution to 'real Kingdom work'. What guidance can you give the adult church member who is discovering the joy of painting or music later in life and is not sure how to understand the joy they derive from such pursuits in light of a Biblical worldview?
These are just some of the kinds of people I could see being tremendously helped by this excellent introduction to Christianity's relationship to culture and the arts. The structure of the book is a strength. Short chapters that can be read in only a handful of minutes at most, but each one making a particular point rather well. The cumulative effect of these emphases, some of which are returned to from different angles elsewhere in the book, is a pretty comprehensive vision of how the arts dovetail with the Christian life. The writing flows well and offers no distraction to the point being made. I found myself reading chapter after chapter with undiminished interest - which is always a good sign. I also appreciated the wide range of authors cited and the notes on recommended further reading as this introduced me to authors and works I was not familiar with.
I would gladly recommend this and place it in the hands of believers in my life who have some latent artistic instinct. And perhaps also to those who don't(!) - so they might better understand those who do and the worth of such pursuits.
These are just some of the kinds of people I could see being tremendously helped by this excellent introduction to Christianity's relationship to culture and the arts. The structure of the book is a strength. Short chapters that can be read in only a handful of minutes at most, but each one making a particular point rather well. The cumulative effect of these emphases, some of which are returned to from different angles elsewhere in the book, is a pretty comprehensive vision of how the arts dovetail with the Christian life. The writing flows well and offers no distraction to the point being made. I found myself reading chapter after chapter with undiminished interest - which is always a good sign. I also appreciated the wide range of authors cited and the notes on recommended further reading as this introduced me to authors and works I was not familiar with.
I would gladly recommend this and place it in the hands of believers in my life who have some latent artistic instinct. And perhaps also to those who don't(!) - so they might better understand those who do and the worth of such pursuits.
July 25, 2018
An enlightening book of essays on exactly what the title says: Christianity, culture and the arts. Insightful, engaging, and a book I know I'll be returning to again and again.
September 5, 2020
An insightful and relevant read from beginning to end! The collection of essays, brilliantly crafted, brings wise counsel for the Christian and his or her response to culture and the arts. This book has re-inspired me to create art--and good art, at that--for the glory of God, and re-invigorated my soul to appreciate art and beauty for the glory of God. Yet even for those who are not Christians, this book is still a thought-provoking read, making the case essay by essay that God is the one who is the true author of beauty--and in Himself beautiful to behold.
I leave All Things New not for the last time, for its pithy, discerning essays are and will be a much-needed resource for the Christian's life...
I leave All Things New not for the last time, for its pithy, discerning essays are and will be a much-needed resource for the Christian's life...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews