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Discovering God through the Arts: How We Can Grow Closer to God by Appreciating Beauty & Creativity
What does art have to do with faith?
For many Christians, paintings, films, music, and other forms of art are simply used for wall decoration, entertaining distraction, or worshipful devotion. But what if the arts played a more prominent role in the Christian life?
In Discovering God through the Arts, discover how the arts can be tools for faith-building, life-changing spiritual formation for all Christians. Terry Glaspey, author of 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, examines:
How the arts assist us in prayer and contemplation
How the arts help us rediscover a sense of wonder
How the arts help us deal with emotions
How the arts aid theological reflection and so much more.
Let your faith be enriched, and discover how beauty and creativity can draw you nearer to the ultimate Creator.
For many Christians, paintings, films, music, and other forms of art are simply used for wall decoration, entertaining distraction, or worshipful devotion. But what if the arts played a more prominent role in the Christian life?
In Discovering God through the Arts, discover how the arts can be tools for faith-building, life-changing spiritual formation for all Christians. Terry Glaspey, author of 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, examines:
How the arts assist us in prayer and contemplation
How the arts help us rediscover a sense of wonder
How the arts help us deal with emotions
How the arts aid theological reflection and so much more.
Let your faith be enriched, and discover how beauty and creativity can draw you nearer to the ultimate Creator.
272 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2021
22 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Terry W. Glaspey
30 books21 followersTerry Glaspey is the award-winning author of numerous books, including 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, which won a 2017 Christianity Today Book Award and a 2017 ECPA Gold Medallion Award, as well as The Prayers of Jane Austen, Bible Basics for Everyone, Not a Tame Lion: The Spiritual Legacy of C.S. Lewis, and The Book Lover’s Guide to Great Reading. Terry is in demand as a speaker and has spoken at the C.S. Lewis World Conference in Oxford and Cambridge, Cedarville University, Veritas Seminary, New Hope College, Kilns College, The Proverbs 31 Conference, and the Seasons Conference. He has taught courses for Veritas Seminary, New Hope College, and Kilns College. Terry is a senior acquisitions editor for Harvest House Publishers and lives in Oregon. His areas of interest include writing, the arts, literature, theology, the Bible, and apologetics and enjoys sharing on such topics at a level with which everyone can engage.
Website: https://www.terryglaspey.com/
Website: https://www.terryglaspey.com/
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April 30, 2022
St Ignatius spoke of "finding God in all things." How can we find God in the arts? Terry Glaspey is a dedicated art aficionado, and here shares reflections and ideas for art appreciation as a spiritual discipline. By art appreciation, I mean engaging with artistic works from a learning standpoint, not just intellectually as one might learn in an art appreciation class, but personally as well, looking and listening with the emotions and spirit.
The arts were always valued in my family, so Glaspey didn't need to convince me there (though he does a better job of this than some other writing I've read on why Christians should appreciate the arts). I resonated with many experiences he had with art. Glaspey is far more attuned to music appreciation than I am (belying my name!), and I'm especially intrigued by his lists of classical, contemporary, and jazz music.
Discovering God through the Arts inspires me to appreciate beauty even more. It made me itch to go to an art museum, long for a seat at the symphony, go see a film. Quite honestly, I haven't done any of those things since the pandemic started, and reading this book made me realize how much I missed all of it, because in the before-times I needed little encouragement to do that. Novels and poetry, on the other hand, have been a steady source of artistic appreciation for me over the past two years. While I have read plenty of art books, listened to plenty of music, and watched plenty of films at home, it's not the same as surrendering myself to the live experience.
Glaspey speaks of art appreciation as a spiritual discipline. However, he's not using the term in the classical sense of disciplines like fasting, solitude, simplicity, and so forth. Instead, he's arguing that the arts can be a place where we can have spiritual encounters, and that regularly practicing art appreciation can benefit the Christian life. I would have enjoyed a more systematic exploration of art appreciation as a formal discipline, but that's not where Glaspey goes. Some of the questions and ideas he includes at the end of every chapter could become regular, formal disciplines in one's life, and some are more suited to one-time or occasional use.
Glaspey doesn't always take the time to explore non-Western art. Once, he claimed "space limitations" as a reason not to explore it, which felt facile. He could have bumped something else to make way for it. I do understand, as a Westerner myself, that we are trained to think of beauty in a particular way, to read it in a certain artistic language, and thus we don't always speak the mother tongue of beauty in other cultures. Yet, part of Glaspey's point is that we can learn to do this through careful attention and what Alan Jacobs calls "the hermeneutics of love." I wish Glaspey had demonstrated this better in Discovering God through the Arts. Only last night I was conversing with two musicians, one of whom mentioned that all human cultures have a concept of the octave. Art is both discovered (such as mathematically demonstrable beauty like the 2/1 ratio of the octave) and created (any melody).
Glaspey seems conflicted about "low" art, referring to it as "fast food" and "sugar." He doesn't necessarily come down on it, and mentions what he likes and why there is a place for such things in his diet, but I wasn't entirely pleased with how he discussed it. He quotes Lewis's An Experiment in Criticism but doesn't seem to have understood one of its essential messages, namely that the consumer's experience of any work, "high" or "low," must be taken seriously, perhaps over any perceived artistic value in the work. Glaspey mentions Star Wars as one of his "fast food" pleasures, but by placing it there he ignores the vibrant interpreting community surrounding the franchise that finds deep meaning in the stories. In my opinion (building on Lewis), the perceived value of the work itself is less tenable than the meaning the reader, viewer, or listener can make from it.
Aunt Dimity's Death, a cozy mystery novel I recently enjoyed, might deserve the label of literary "candy." Yet, in it I found a celebration of beauty and simple pleasures, a cathartic story about rediscovering one's joy for life, and a meaningful exploration of coming to terms with the pasts of our loved ones. On the one hand, you could dismiss Aunt Dimity's Death as fluff. On the other hand, you could write an essay on this novel as a Divine Comedy in cozy mystery form. And I think we all know which route I take. Labeling a certain class of art as "sugar" closes one off to further dimensions of art appreciation. I've known some folks who set off on a self-prescribed diet of their choice, only reading "classic" literature or watching the "best" films or whatever. Every single one of them has lost their love for the medium and quits it altogether, at least for a time. If we forget to play in our art appreciation, we lose as much as if we consume mindlessly. Granted, Glaspey does say that eating a steak dinner every day isn't healthy, and a balanced diet of art appreciation should include comfort works as well. Yet, he failed to explore this meaningfully in a sustained manner. Encountering any creative work with the whole self, be it a Hallmark movie or a Russian novel, opens the possibility of a compelling experience. Cutting oneself off to one or the other can lead to snobbishness or artistic atrophy.
Unfortunately, my enjoyment of Discovering God through the Arts was decreased by some poor editing choices. There are a few too many distracting typographical errors to ignore ("bethrothed" instead of "betroth'd" in Donne's Holy Sonnet XIV, lol). A few places could have used some judicious editing for tone. Of course, plenty of art forms are missing here, like plays, television, handicrafts, and others. (Television and handicrafts are not always recognized as "high" art, but Glaspey tries to tear that down as well and has a rousing admonition against snobbery.) When I think of what this book might be like with those areas included, I'm honestly a little relieved they aren't present, because Glaspey refers to so many works of art that adding new genres to this book would have cluttered it.
Glaspey has also written 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, and he does love a list. Not limited to a mere 75 selections, in the final chapter he shares lavish lists of poets, musicians, novelists, films, and artists. (Individual works and a few anthologies/books of criticism are also included.) I am intrigued by many of these and look forward to exploring more, and perhaps making my own lists of works that are spiritually meaningful to me.
Recommended for those who want to get into theology and the arts, for those who want to learn how to practice art appreciation (film, music, literature, visual art) as a spiritual discipline, and for any Christian who wants to reshape their understanding of culture in a non-combative way.
The arts were always valued in my family, so Glaspey didn't need to convince me there (though he does a better job of this than some other writing I've read on why Christians should appreciate the arts). I resonated with many experiences he had with art. Glaspey is far more attuned to music appreciation than I am (belying my name!), and I'm especially intrigued by his lists of classical, contemporary, and jazz music.
Discovering God through the Arts inspires me to appreciate beauty even more. It made me itch to go to an art museum, long for a seat at the symphony, go see a film. Quite honestly, I haven't done any of those things since the pandemic started, and reading this book made me realize how much I missed all of it, because in the before-times I needed little encouragement to do that. Novels and poetry, on the other hand, have been a steady source of artistic appreciation for me over the past two years. While I have read plenty of art books, listened to plenty of music, and watched plenty of films at home, it's not the same as surrendering myself to the live experience.
Glaspey speaks of art appreciation as a spiritual discipline. However, he's not using the term in the classical sense of disciplines like fasting, solitude, simplicity, and so forth. Instead, he's arguing that the arts can be a place where we can have spiritual encounters, and that regularly practicing art appreciation can benefit the Christian life. I would have enjoyed a more systematic exploration of art appreciation as a formal discipline, but that's not where Glaspey goes. Some of the questions and ideas he includes at the end of every chapter could become regular, formal disciplines in one's life, and some are more suited to one-time or occasional use.
Glaspey doesn't always take the time to explore non-Western art. Once, he claimed "space limitations" as a reason not to explore it, which felt facile. He could have bumped something else to make way for it. I do understand, as a Westerner myself, that we are trained to think of beauty in a particular way, to read it in a certain artistic language, and thus we don't always speak the mother tongue of beauty in other cultures. Yet, part of Glaspey's point is that we can learn to do this through careful attention and what Alan Jacobs calls "the hermeneutics of love." I wish Glaspey had demonstrated this better in Discovering God through the Arts. Only last night I was conversing with two musicians, one of whom mentioned that all human cultures have a concept of the octave. Art is both discovered (such as mathematically demonstrable beauty like the 2/1 ratio of the octave) and created (any melody).
Glaspey seems conflicted about "low" art, referring to it as "fast food" and "sugar." He doesn't necessarily come down on it, and mentions what he likes and why there is a place for such things in his diet, but I wasn't entirely pleased with how he discussed it. He quotes Lewis's An Experiment in Criticism but doesn't seem to have understood one of its essential messages, namely that the consumer's experience of any work, "high" or "low," must be taken seriously, perhaps over any perceived artistic value in the work. Glaspey mentions Star Wars as one of his "fast food" pleasures, but by placing it there he ignores the vibrant interpreting community surrounding the franchise that finds deep meaning in the stories. In my opinion (building on Lewis), the perceived value of the work itself is less tenable than the meaning the reader, viewer, or listener can make from it.
Aunt Dimity's Death, a cozy mystery novel I recently enjoyed, might deserve the label of literary "candy." Yet, in it I found a celebration of beauty and simple pleasures, a cathartic story about rediscovering one's joy for life, and a meaningful exploration of coming to terms with the pasts of our loved ones. On the one hand, you could dismiss Aunt Dimity's Death as fluff. On the other hand, you could write an essay on this novel as a Divine Comedy in cozy mystery form. And I think we all know which route I take. Labeling a certain class of art as "sugar" closes one off to further dimensions of art appreciation. I've known some folks who set off on a self-prescribed diet of their choice, only reading "classic" literature or watching the "best" films or whatever. Every single one of them has lost their love for the medium and quits it altogether, at least for a time. If we forget to play in our art appreciation, we lose as much as if we consume mindlessly. Granted, Glaspey does say that eating a steak dinner every day isn't healthy, and a balanced diet of art appreciation should include comfort works as well. Yet, he failed to explore this meaningfully in a sustained manner. Encountering any creative work with the whole self, be it a Hallmark movie or a Russian novel, opens the possibility of a compelling experience. Cutting oneself off to one or the other can lead to snobbishness or artistic atrophy.
Unfortunately, my enjoyment of Discovering God through the Arts was decreased by some poor editing choices. There are a few too many distracting typographical errors to ignore ("bethrothed" instead of "betroth'd" in Donne's Holy Sonnet XIV, lol). A few places could have used some judicious editing for tone. Of course, plenty of art forms are missing here, like plays, television, handicrafts, and others. (Television and handicrafts are not always recognized as "high" art, but Glaspey tries to tear that down as well and has a rousing admonition against snobbery.) When I think of what this book might be like with those areas included, I'm honestly a little relieved they aren't present, because Glaspey refers to so many works of art that adding new genres to this book would have cluttered it.
Glaspey has also written 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, and he does love a list. Not limited to a mere 75 selections, in the final chapter he shares lavish lists of poets, musicians, novelists, films, and artists. (Individual works and a few anthologies/books of criticism are also included.) I am intrigued by many of these and look forward to exploring more, and perhaps making my own lists of works that are spiritually meaningful to me.
Recommended for those who want to get into theology and the arts, for those who want to learn how to practice art appreciation (film, music, literature, visual art) as a spiritual discipline, and for any Christian who wants to reshape their understanding of culture in a non-combative way.
June 21, 2021
When I was pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, I was required to take several art history courses. But since I got my degree from a secular school, I didn’t get the Christian interpretation I craved. This lovely book from Moody Publishers invites you to appreciate God’s beauty and creativity not only through painting and sculpture, but through film, music and other contemporary formats. I’m delighting in the full-color pictures displayed inside. This is a book to feed my soul during Sabbath rests this summer.
I received a preview copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a preview copy of this book from the publisher.
June 16, 2022
This book by Terry Glaspey, about beauty, goodness, truth, the correlation between art and faith, the importance of art, and different painters, sculptors, musicians, poets, writers, and film directors, was very moving.
I like that at the end of the book Glaspey included a list of different novels, works of non-fiction, films, songs, and poems he recommends to the reader. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to meeting Terry Glaspey this summer in Oxford, England at the C. S. Lewis Oxbridge Event I will be working at!
I like that at the end of the book Glaspey included a list of different novels, works of non-fiction, films, songs, and poems he recommends to the reader. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to meeting Terry Glaspey this summer in Oxford, England at the C. S. Lewis Oxbridge Event I will be working at!
June 27, 2025
I've been on a kick lately of reading books that explore the intersection of art and faith, and Discovering God through the Arts fit perfectly into that category.
Author Terry Glaspey helps us consider different facets of art appreciation including contemplation, wonder, transcendence, and even how we handle our emotions. Glaspey's handling of the concepts, artists, and works presented is simple enough to be understood if you're a beginner in this area, but comprehensive enough to learn something new if you're further along. What set this apart from other books I've read on this topic was the breadth of disciplines covered. He didn't only talk about paintings and sculptures, but included music as different as classical and country western, different genres of books, film, and more.
Perhaps my favourite part of the book was the recommended resources found at the end. It is so packed full of works both well known and lesser known, and it makes me excited to dive further into the world of art and how it can supplement the spiritual disciplines I already practice.
If you're looking for a book to help you appreciate art through the lens of faith (or vice versa), I would recommend Discovering God through the Arts.
It is worth noting that this is a work of nonfiction that is not narrative. In my opinion, it would work well in a class on the subject matter. That isn't necessarily a negative, but I think it's good to know going in that it is less story driven and more focused on teaching.
Thank you to Moody Publishers for the complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
Author Terry Glaspey helps us consider different facets of art appreciation including contemplation, wonder, transcendence, and even how we handle our emotions. Glaspey's handling of the concepts, artists, and works presented is simple enough to be understood if you're a beginner in this area, but comprehensive enough to learn something new if you're further along. What set this apart from other books I've read on this topic was the breadth of disciplines covered. He didn't only talk about paintings and sculptures, but included music as different as classical and country western, different genres of books, film, and more.
Perhaps my favourite part of the book was the recommended resources found at the end. It is so packed full of works both well known and lesser known, and it makes me excited to dive further into the world of art and how it can supplement the spiritual disciplines I already practice.
If you're looking for a book to help you appreciate art through the lens of faith (or vice versa), I would recommend Discovering God through the Arts.
It is worth noting that this is a work of nonfiction that is not narrative. In my opinion, it would work well in a class on the subject matter. That isn't necessarily a negative, but I think it's good to know going in that it is less story driven and more focused on teaching.
Thank you to Moody Publishers for the complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 2, 2021
I read Glaspey's book "75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know," when I was writing my thesis for grad school. I deeply appreciate how deftly he ties the arts together with faith. His new book further informs us that there is a connection between beauty and truth that we find in the great works of painting, music, and architecture. Our modern culture is quick to push away contemplation of the classics, but this book brings the reader back to a foundational understanding and appreciation of the richness of creation and the creative process. It is of utmost importance in this day and age that we take the time to open our eyes and truly see and engage our imaginations at a spiritual level and Terry Glaspey guides us on how to do just that.
June 29, 2025
This book has become one of my favorites so far this year. The beauty of its writing and the deep call to pursuing God capture the reader from the beginning.
“Discovering God Through the Arts” explores how the arts can serve as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation. We are reminded that we receive little benefit form the arts because we do not seek a deeper benefit; however, “if we allow them to do so, they can enrich our walk with God in life-changing ways.”
Reading this book fueled my desire to be more disciplined in my practice of writing poetry as a form of prayer and journaling, and to return to my nature photography hobby. I was inspired to consider visiting art galleries to gaze at paintings to find meanings missed when given only a short glance.
Most importantly, Glaspey’s book magnetically draws the reader to seek a closer relationship with God—through the Scriptures, prayer, the spiritual disciplines, and in the arts. Likewise, other themes of the book—such as recovering a sense of wonder and living a life that is more attentive to Christ—enhanced the book’s focus alongside its beautifully written prose.
If you appreciated the following reads, you’ll also enjoy this one.
1. Rembrandt Is In the Wind (R. Ramsey)
2. Recovering the Lost Art of Reading (Ryken, Mathes)
3. Break, Blow, Burn & Make (E. Lily Yu)
Even if you haven’t read any of the titles above, I encourage you to pick up this book. Perhaps like me, you’ll also find aspects that inspire your life and passion for God in various ways. I highly recommend this book!
Total: 5 Stars
Readability: 5
Impact: 5
Content: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Highlights:
“If we are really paying attention, we will often find ourselves gasping at the beauty and mystery of life.”
“Wonder can become a way of living if we train ourselves to begin to pay attention, to take more notice of the gifts that come our way every day from the hand of God.”
“The designs for the Tabernacle and the Temple are a good reminder that God, the One who created everything, delights in creativity, and sees it as a way of pointing toward His truth.”
“The experience of wonder can add a deeper dimension to our spiritual practices. And, conversely, our spiritual practices can help open us up to wonder.”
“The Bible is filled with poetry meant to take us deeper into our understanding of the mystery of God's grace to us.”
“The singing of hymns allows people to express their faith with a robust sound that reflects the hope to be found in the truth of the Gospel. The best of the hymns crystallize the great truths of the faith and demonstrate how those truths can impact our lives in the midst of our struggles.”
“Discovering God Through the Arts” explores how the arts can serve as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation. We are reminded that we receive little benefit form the arts because we do not seek a deeper benefit; however, “if we allow them to do so, they can enrich our walk with God in life-changing ways.”
Reading this book fueled my desire to be more disciplined in my practice of writing poetry as a form of prayer and journaling, and to return to my nature photography hobby. I was inspired to consider visiting art galleries to gaze at paintings to find meanings missed when given only a short glance.
Most importantly, Glaspey’s book magnetically draws the reader to seek a closer relationship with God—through the Scriptures, prayer, the spiritual disciplines, and in the arts. Likewise, other themes of the book—such as recovering a sense of wonder and living a life that is more attentive to Christ—enhanced the book’s focus alongside its beautifully written prose.
If you appreciated the following reads, you’ll also enjoy this one.
1. Rembrandt Is In the Wind (R. Ramsey)
2. Recovering the Lost Art of Reading (Ryken, Mathes)
3. Break, Blow, Burn & Make (E. Lily Yu)
Even if you haven’t read any of the titles above, I encourage you to pick up this book. Perhaps like me, you’ll also find aspects that inspire your life and passion for God in various ways. I highly recommend this book!
Total: 5 Stars
Readability: 5
Impact: 5
Content: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Highlights:
“If we are really paying attention, we will often find ourselves gasping at the beauty and mystery of life.”
“Wonder can become a way of living if we train ourselves to begin to pay attention, to take more notice of the gifts that come our way every day from the hand of God.”
“The designs for the Tabernacle and the Temple are a good reminder that God, the One who created everything, delights in creativity, and sees it as a way of pointing toward His truth.”
“The experience of wonder can add a deeper dimension to our spiritual practices. And, conversely, our spiritual practices can help open us up to wonder.”
“The Bible is filled with poetry meant to take us deeper into our understanding of the mystery of God's grace to us.”
“The singing of hymns allows people to express their faith with a robust sound that reflects the hope to be found in the truth of the Gospel. The best of the hymns crystallize the great truths of the faith and demonstrate how those truths can impact our lives in the midst of our struggles.”
June 4, 2021
I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not an art lover in general. I enjoy writing but I don’t draw, paint, sculpt or create otherwise. Most of the rest of my family are art lovers. Also I’m always looking for ways to connect with God more. That’s why I chose this book to review. I was hoping it would make me appreciate art more and connect with God.
This book is really well written and thought out. The author covers various types of art and shows us how to appreciate it. We are shown how to discover God through these art pieces.
While discussing how sometimes you have to sit with a piece of art for a while to truly appreciate it, the author says this:
” This is how many of us experience prayer. We sit down to pray, and it goes well for a short period of time. Then we start to get tired and bored and our mind races to things we need to do, conversations we need to have, and to just about anything except staying focused on prayer. But if we just continue to pray and keep focused on the act of communicating with God, we will pass into a state where prayer feels more intimate and more connected. Sometimes we just need to pass through the boredom to find revelation on the other side of it. Like sitting with a piece of art while you wait for it to do its work upon you, so sitting patiently in prayer will eventually open up into a deeper spiritual connection with God.”
pg 44
I also appreciate this quote:
“Art, in all its forms, has the power to awaken us. We so often sleepwalk through our lives, missing the many little wonders spread out before us each and every day. The arts can function as an alarm clock to jolt us into wakefulness, keeping us from bumbling inattentively through our lives.”
pg 34
The book covers visual arts, music, tv/movies, books, poetry and more. There are full colour representations of famous art pieces displayed throughout the book. Each chapter ends with personal reflection questions and exercises. The author suggests various books, poetry and movies to watch throughout the book. There is also an appendix full of recommendations of poets, music, novels, films, artists and museums.
The book has made me appreciate art more. I want to check out the resources in the appendix and find time to learn to appreciate art. I realized that, especially with paintings, I didn’t take the time to see the nuances or appreciate the technique. So I wasn’t enjoying the art.
Highly Recommended for those who love God and Art or want to appreciate art more.
I’m not an art lover in general. I enjoy writing but I don’t draw, paint, sculpt or create otherwise. Most of the rest of my family are art lovers. Also I’m always looking for ways to connect with God more. That’s why I chose this book to review. I was hoping it would make me appreciate art more and connect with God.
This book is really well written and thought out. The author covers various types of art and shows us how to appreciate it. We are shown how to discover God through these art pieces.
While discussing how sometimes you have to sit with a piece of art for a while to truly appreciate it, the author says this:
” This is how many of us experience prayer. We sit down to pray, and it goes well for a short period of time. Then we start to get tired and bored and our mind races to things we need to do, conversations we need to have, and to just about anything except staying focused on prayer. But if we just continue to pray and keep focused on the act of communicating with God, we will pass into a state where prayer feels more intimate and more connected. Sometimes we just need to pass through the boredom to find revelation on the other side of it. Like sitting with a piece of art while you wait for it to do its work upon you, so sitting patiently in prayer will eventually open up into a deeper spiritual connection with God.”
pg 44
I also appreciate this quote:
“Art, in all its forms, has the power to awaken us. We so often sleepwalk through our lives, missing the many little wonders spread out before us each and every day. The arts can function as an alarm clock to jolt us into wakefulness, keeping us from bumbling inattentively through our lives.”
pg 34
The book covers visual arts, music, tv/movies, books, poetry and more. There are full colour representations of famous art pieces displayed throughout the book. Each chapter ends with personal reflection questions and exercises. The author suggests various books, poetry and movies to watch throughout the book. There is also an appendix full of recommendations of poets, music, novels, films, artists and museums.
The book has made me appreciate art more. I want to check out the resources in the appendix and find time to learn to appreciate art. I realized that, especially with paintings, I didn’t take the time to see the nuances or appreciate the technique. So I wasn’t enjoying the art.
Highly Recommended for those who love God and Art or want to appreciate art more.
May 9, 2021
I appreciated the content of this book, but I have to admit that the writing was at times distracting. I was especially put off by a lack of precision with language in a chapter anticipating discomfort with theological ambiguity in art. Still, there is much to reflect on in this book. Any Christian with a desire to see more of God in the world will be helped by Glaspey’s insights, even if it requires overlooking some weak sentences.
September 27, 2023
It definitely varied from chapter to chapter how much I enjoyed this book. I found myself particularly enjoying the parts of the books where visual art was discussed since it's something that I've learned a lot about and been moved by. The 4 star rating is because I like the topic and invitations of the book and I thought it was written well.
Pick by Shelly for the first Marchant girl book/art club, made possible by Ann-Marie giving me her Kindle log in!
Pick by Shelly for the first Marchant girl book/art club, made possible by Ann-Marie giving me her Kindle log in!
September 17, 2024
This is a lovely intro to growing an appreciation for art of all media, but I think I hoped for/expected more theological depth to the part that ties appreciation of art to deepening a relationship with God. If this were the first book someone read about art and faith, that might be a positive, though. And I greatly appreciated his articulation of the role emotion plays to the Christian, and his longs lists of poets, composers, books, films, artists, etc. to dip into.
March 14, 2022
I enjoyed learning about so many artistic works (painting, novels, music, film, etc) that I had not considered before. Now I have many new things to explore and appreciate.
However, the book itself, eventhough it has it great portions, overall was “meh”.
However, the book itself, eventhough it has it great portions, overall was “meh”.
Read
December 20, 2021Truly fantastic. This book put into words a lot of my thoughts/feelings over the past year about why we should strive for excellence in our Christian art forms such as worship.
“The arts remind us that we live in a world that is haunted by things beyond it.”
“The arts remind us that we live in a world that is haunted by things beyond it.”
May 1, 2021
“Discovering God Through the Arts: How We Can Grow Closer to God by Appreciating Beauty & Creativity” is a new release from Moody Publishers that immediately caught my attention. In this book, author Terry Glaspey asks (and answers) the question “what does art have to do with faith?” I’ve always been interested in this topic, because I believe that art - including music, films, novels, etc. - can be beneficial for more than just entertainment. This book helped me articulate HOW the arts can help build our faith and encourage thoughtful contemplation and growth in all areas of life.
To give you an idea as to the content of this book, some of my favorite chapter titles include...
- The Eyes of a Child: Rediscovering a Sense of Wonder
- A Bigger Picture: Bringing the Scripture to Life
- The Best Kind of Heartbreak: Helping Us Deal with Our Emotions
- Quiet Places: Assisting Us in Prayer and Contemplation
- And many more...
Every chapter in this book is written with a warm and colorful writing style - not at all dry and boring as some books in this genre can be. I learned so much, and am eager to start including more art in my life. Poetry, for example, is something that I have passed over as unimportant, nebulous, and difficult to understand... But see what Mr. Glaspey has to say about William Blake’s poem “The Tyger”: “Granted, you aren’t going to learn anything about the mating habits of the tiger from this poem. Nor will you gain much insight into its diet. But you will come to understand more clearly about how this most fearsome of beasts is a creation of God... As is so often the case with poetry, the poet tells us not only what something is, but what it means. Perhaps to truly understand the tiger you require both ways of knowing. You need both scientific observation and you need a poetic eye.”
This is just an example of some of the rich treasures of increased understanding and greater capacity for art appreciation that you will glean from reading this book. One of my favorite features is at the end of each chapter, where there is a section called “Questions and Spiritual Exercises” that allows us to apply what we’ve learned to our own lives, rather than just moving on and forgetting about it.
If you have ever asked yourself “What does art have to do with faith?”, I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and begin discovering God through the arts today!
I received this book courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
To give you an idea as to the content of this book, some of my favorite chapter titles include...
- The Eyes of a Child: Rediscovering a Sense of Wonder
- A Bigger Picture: Bringing the Scripture to Life
- The Best Kind of Heartbreak: Helping Us Deal with Our Emotions
- Quiet Places: Assisting Us in Prayer and Contemplation
- And many more...
Every chapter in this book is written with a warm and colorful writing style - not at all dry and boring as some books in this genre can be. I learned so much, and am eager to start including more art in my life. Poetry, for example, is something that I have passed over as unimportant, nebulous, and difficult to understand... But see what Mr. Glaspey has to say about William Blake’s poem “The Tyger”: “Granted, you aren’t going to learn anything about the mating habits of the tiger from this poem. Nor will you gain much insight into its diet. But you will come to understand more clearly about how this most fearsome of beasts is a creation of God... As is so often the case with poetry, the poet tells us not only what something is, but what it means. Perhaps to truly understand the tiger you require both ways of knowing. You need both scientific observation and you need a poetic eye.”
This is just an example of some of the rich treasures of increased understanding and greater capacity for art appreciation that you will glean from reading this book. One of my favorite features is at the end of each chapter, where there is a section called “Questions and Spiritual Exercises” that allows us to apply what we’ve learned to our own lives, rather than just moving on and forgetting about it.
If you have ever asked yourself “What does art have to do with faith?”, I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and begin discovering God through the arts today!
I received this book courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 24, 2021
Is art simply supposed to be in the background of our lives? Or did God mean for it to be more? In Discovering God through the Arts, Terry Glaspey teaches how we can grow closer to God by appreciating beauty and creativity.
Spiritual Discipline and Formation
At just about 250 pages, this book is a tour of God’s glory as revealed in the arts. It’s an excellent book on spiritual discipline, and an engaging read to help with spiritual formation.
By slowing down to study art, Glaspey helps us realize how we need to slow down to spend time with God -- whether in prayer or Bible reading or simply sitting to experience His presence. Poetry serves the purpose of bringing us into a deeper reality and understanding the mystery of God’s grace to us. And art based on Scripture helps awaken our imagination, seeing things that we might have missed or overlooked.
Emotions and Moments
I was most impacted by how Glaspey explained that art helps us deal with our emotions. First, the arts provide an opportunity for us to exercise our positive emotions. Next, the arts can also give us a cathartic outlet for our negative emotions. Finally, the arts can help us learn to differentiate between false or stock responses to life, and those that are rich and true.
Comfort, courage, and hope are found in the arts. It expands our world to make us more empathetic. Art helps us process and partake in the loud and quiet moments of life.
Good, Beautiful, and True
Glaspey doesn’t just tell us why the arts are important. He actually has us encounter and interact with art in the book. Full-color paintings are sprinkled throughout, and Glaspey gives his insight while helping us discover more. Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and spiritual exercises related to the arts. An extensive list of recommended literature, films, and music is included at the back of the book.
As the world begins to reopen and attempts to go back to “normal,” I find myself wanting to see more beauty in our lives. Good, beautiful, true art is all around us -- and it is a reflection of our good, beautiful, and true Creator. This book will help you have ears to hear and eyes to see.
I received a media copy of Discovering God through the Arts and this is my honest review.
Spiritual Discipline and Formation
At just about 250 pages, this book is a tour of God’s glory as revealed in the arts. It’s an excellent book on spiritual discipline, and an engaging read to help with spiritual formation.
By slowing down to study art, Glaspey helps us realize how we need to slow down to spend time with God -- whether in prayer or Bible reading or simply sitting to experience His presence. Poetry serves the purpose of bringing us into a deeper reality and understanding the mystery of God’s grace to us. And art based on Scripture helps awaken our imagination, seeing things that we might have missed or overlooked.
Emotions and Moments
I was most impacted by how Glaspey explained that art helps us deal with our emotions. First, the arts provide an opportunity for us to exercise our positive emotions. Next, the arts can also give us a cathartic outlet for our negative emotions. Finally, the arts can help us learn to differentiate between false or stock responses to life, and those that are rich and true.
Comfort, courage, and hope are found in the arts. It expands our world to make us more empathetic. Art helps us process and partake in the loud and quiet moments of life.
Good, Beautiful, and True
Glaspey doesn’t just tell us why the arts are important. He actually has us encounter and interact with art in the book. Full-color paintings are sprinkled throughout, and Glaspey gives his insight while helping us discover more. Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and spiritual exercises related to the arts. An extensive list of recommended literature, films, and music is included at the back of the book.
As the world begins to reopen and attempts to go back to “normal,” I find myself wanting to see more beauty in our lives. Good, beautiful, true art is all around us -- and it is a reflection of our good, beautiful, and true Creator. This book will help you have ears to hear and eyes to see.
I received a media copy of Discovering God through the Arts and this is my honest review.
August 19, 2021
Discovering God Through the Arts is a very accessible introduction to considering art and faith combined. As in 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, Glaspey has produced a superb resource book which is fascinating and thought provoking.
Easy to pick up and put down, and read not necessarily in a linear way, my copy is now covered in highlights and markers. One marked passage reads: ‘The arts can help us learn how to pay attention. I’ve discovered that looking at art, listening to music or a poem, reading a descriptive passage in a novel, or viewing a film can force me to slow down, quiet my restless thoughts, and open myself to a moment of revelation. A moment when I can see the wonder in the ordinary. Because, in a very real sense, nothing is ordinary.’ This quote comes from the section headed Coming Awake: Teaching Us to Pay Attention, and the book is split into 11 chapters considering elements like Digging for Deeper Meanings, Bringing the Scriptures to Life, Awakening a Passion for Justice and Assisting Us in Prayer and Contemplation.
Liberally illustrated in colour, which you may not expect from a paperback even if it IS about art, this is a nicely designed book with strategically placed quotes among the pages and questions and spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this to a very wide readership. It’s certainly a book which will remain not only on my shelf, but also often be on my desk or coffee table within easy reach for reference or reflection.
(First published in Together Magazine, May/June21 issue)
Easy to pick up and put down, and read not necessarily in a linear way, my copy is now covered in highlights and markers. One marked passage reads: ‘The arts can help us learn how to pay attention. I’ve discovered that looking at art, listening to music or a poem, reading a descriptive passage in a novel, or viewing a film can force me to slow down, quiet my restless thoughts, and open myself to a moment of revelation. A moment when I can see the wonder in the ordinary. Because, in a very real sense, nothing is ordinary.’ This quote comes from the section headed Coming Awake: Teaching Us to Pay Attention, and the book is split into 11 chapters considering elements like Digging for Deeper Meanings, Bringing the Scriptures to Life, Awakening a Passion for Justice and Assisting Us in Prayer and Contemplation.
Liberally illustrated in colour, which you may not expect from a paperback even if it IS about art, this is a nicely designed book with strategically placed quotes among the pages and questions and spiritual exercises at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this to a very wide readership. It’s certainly a book which will remain not only on my shelf, but also often be on my desk or coffee table within easy reach for reference or reflection.
(First published in Together Magazine, May/June21 issue)
August 16, 2024
Wanted something different to read, for my spiritual reading, and having this book for a while, so I picked it up. And it’s the nourishment my soul needed at this very moment. Now, I am not an artist, but overtime the Holy Spirit has made sure, I admired it overtime. And, this book is for people who want to do the same. It’s an easy read, and shows us, how to pray through the arts, and music. Something, I seem to do quite often, without knowing it. As, how many mornings, do I just listen to christen music and hymns, instead of my formal prayer, which I seem to be doing, as I write this review.
My only slight disappointment is, and why I give it 4 stars, is I wish there was more pictures and images in it, as a book like this needs it. Also, the images are small, and to really look at them, they need to be much bigger. As, often these masters of the artworld, have small details, you only pick up, looking at them a few times. Yes, I admit I did a few arts history – philosophy classes at university, and so have that background. But you don’t need it, to fully understand the beauty of this book. Its, to help your soul, sing in a new way!
Hence, this book belongs to any Catholic – Christian library, as it really shows Man, how Beauty and Aesthetics, is needed within our World, as our soul needs to express ourselves, and that is often through the arts for people. Who, bring beauty and a wonderful way of storytelling to the rest of us.
Something, our world really needs now.
My only slight disappointment is, and why I give it 4 stars, is I wish there was more pictures and images in it, as a book like this needs it. Also, the images are small, and to really look at them, they need to be much bigger. As, often these masters of the artworld, have small details, you only pick up, looking at them a few times. Yes, I admit I did a few arts history – philosophy classes at university, and so have that background. But you don’t need it, to fully understand the beauty of this book. Its, to help your soul, sing in a new way!
Hence, this book belongs to any Catholic – Christian library, as it really shows Man, how Beauty and Aesthetics, is needed within our World, as our soul needs to express ourselves, and that is often through the arts for people. Who, bring beauty and a wonderful way of storytelling to the rest of us.
Something, our world really needs now.
January 21, 2023
“When we ask little from the arts, we will likely receive little in return. But if we allow them to do so, they can enrich our walk with God in life-changing ways.” This is a great starting point to begin to experience various art forms as companions along our spiritual path. Chances are, most of us may have already experienced the wonder and mystery of God through books, paintings, music, film, and more. Terry Glaspey helps us pay more attention, dig for deeper meanings, find comfort, and even awaken a passion for justice through the arts. I particularly enjoyed his insights on famous paintings included in the book. I only wish the images had been full glossy pages. But this will motivate me to investigate them further through online sites and library books. I was happy to see that a list of resources were included in the final chapter. I will be referring to this regularly, as I look for books, music, poetry, and visual art. Hopefully this list will be updated at some point with more current musical artists. Glaspey’s writing is very accessible, like a knowledgeable, good friend walking alongside, pointing out what I may otherwise have missed. Highly recommended.
I received this book free from Moody Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
Great insights about the beauty, usefulness, and reflections of God in the arts. Each chapter focused on one way that the arts point us to God. Each way was a good insight, however, the way he lays out his thoughts is sometimes disorganized or redundant. Still, the book exposed me to art pieces, artists, and art methods I have never thought about or heard of and made me excited to explore them!
Favorite quotes:
“The arts remind us that we live in a world that is haunted by things beyond it. They help us see that our world is suffused with supernatural realities that science and reason cannot account for, realities that are beyond our five senses, toward which our sense can only point.” (90-91)
“The purpose of the arts is not so much found in giving tidy answers to the big questions about life, but about provoking the right kinds of questions.” (94)
“In experiencing great art, we go places we’ve never been, see things we’ve never seen, face brand new temptations and conflicts and moral dilemmas that we’ve never grappled with in our own life.” (170)
“Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realise the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors. … In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself … I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see.” – C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism (171)
Favorite quotes:
“The arts remind us that we live in a world that is haunted by things beyond it. They help us see that our world is suffused with supernatural realities that science and reason cannot account for, realities that are beyond our five senses, toward which our sense can only point.” (90-91)
“The purpose of the arts is not so much found in giving tidy answers to the big questions about life, but about provoking the right kinds of questions.” (94)
“In experiencing great art, we go places we’ve never been, see things we’ve never seen, face brand new temptations and conflicts and moral dilemmas that we’ve never grappled with in our own life.” (170)
“Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realise the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors. … In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself … I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see.” – C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism (171)
March 24, 2022
A beautiful description of how the arts can draw us closer to God. I'm beginning to realize that art can be a spiritual gift, and I believe it is something that is often taken for granted in the modern church.
Glaspey is heartfelt and passionate as he demonstrates the importance of art to Christians and why artists and non-artists can experience growth through the arts. As an artist, I especially appreciated the reminder that art can be a form of worship. This is a good read for anyone who has wondered whether art has a place in the church or in the life of a believer.
Glaspey is heartfelt and passionate as he demonstrates the importance of art to Christians and why artists and non-artists can experience growth through the arts. As an artist, I especially appreciated the reminder that art can be a form of worship. This is a good read for anyone who has wondered whether art has a place in the church or in the life of a believer.
May 30, 2022
This book elucidates what many people know, whether they’re aware or not: the arts (books, movies, music, art) can and do push people toward God and strengthen faith, almost like spiritual cross-training. Glaspey effectively details the different ways this happens, through wonder, empathy, contemplation, and much more. If you haven’t pondered these things, the book will be an eye-opener to the power of the arts. If you have, the book will still sharpen your awareness of how the arts can draw us to God, making for more rewarding artistic experiences.
October 25, 2023
The author talked about ways the arts move us so that we are more open to God, or can be utilized as a part of our devotion and worship to God. He gave many recommendations on artwork/filmography/novel/music that he found excellent. I enjoyed learning about these works of art from him. I used the descriptions he wrote about Tintoretto's Crucifixion and The Chosen to introduce the two works to my children and our church youth group. This book is very conversational and, aside from introducing readers to artwork, encourages readers to live more fully according to the Lord's will.
July 7, 2022
Finally a book that engages with art from a Christian perspective in a way that isn’t super shallow or black and white! It still isn’t as compelling as good art itself (explaining art doesn’t have the same impact as making art) but it is nuanced, layered, and honest about how messed up the world can be. Thank you Terry Glaspey for showing that Christian art analysis and engagement need not be lame!
September 26, 2023
I appreciate this book’s aims and, largely, its execution, but I wish it had been proofread better. It had multiple distracting errors, such as repeated misspellings of names (such as Marilynne Robinson and Harriet Tubman), punctuation mistakes, and other surface errors. These issues, while relatively superficial, make the book hard for me to fully endorse since I am also teaching with it.
January 20, 2024
I really really enjoyed this book. What a fantastic beginner book to the arts and the arts with faith. There was one chapter that seemed to have a focus on social justice that made me mildly uncomfortable but I think that’s what he was going for. There’s also some really awesome lists at the end of the book to help you explore the arts more fully!
December 18, 2022
Interesting book with amazing pithy quotes. However much of the book is boring because it's mostly a huge catalogue of analysis of hundreds of works of art, redundantly explaining in each chapter the emotional results. Probably an easier read as an encyclopedia.
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October 12, 2023I had to read this book for class, but it was very informative and challenges you to think on a deeper level about yourself, your relationship with God, and how you look at the world.
I would recommend it!
I would recommend it!
July 10, 2021
The cover instantly grabbed my attention, and the book was phenomenal!! Highly recommend!
April 9, 2022
An absolute delight and balm for the creative soul.
April 30, 2022
This has been eye-opening in new artists - artists, musicians, poets, novelists, all contemporary and older. I've been introduced to new people to explore. Also, new ways to read and listen.
December 31, 2023
Great display of how important art is for humankind. It explores all kinds of art with no artificial boundaries of what is supposedly allowed for Christians.
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