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Creative Thought, Excellence, Relevance to Society & the Christian Artist
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Addicted to Mediocrity By Francis Schaeffer / Crossway Books In this provocative book, Franky Schaeffer shows how Christians today have sacrificed the artistic prominence they enjoyed for centuries and settled instead for mediocrity. The evidence for this sad state of affairs abounds. We are flooded with "Christian" doodads, trinkets, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., that use God's name as an advertising - putting the Creator of the universe on the same level as soda pop! But it doesn't have to be this way. Schaeffer shows how Christians who care can begin to reverse the slide toward mediocrity: by demanding excellence in the arts and media, and in all areas of life; by giving our time, talents and money to those things which are worthy of our support and are truly honoring to God; by staying away from the cheap, the shoddy, and the make-a-fast-buck mentality. Schaeffer offers not only an unflinching critique, but specific and practical direction for becoming "unaddicted," and for recovering artistic excellence. The punch, humor and satire of the text is effectively enhanced by nineteen original drawings by Chicago artist Kurt Mitchell. |
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Art & Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts By Hilary Brand More Christians than ever before are studying and working in music, painting, sculpture, theatre, television, film, architecture, and more. They face the challenge of working in a way that is both wholly Christian and wholly contemporary. This practical guide encourages artists and those interested in the arts to develop a Christian worldview from which they can approach their crafts. A wide range of illustrations, both historical and contemporary, illuminates the text as the authors explore the conflicting influences on Christians entering the arts. They correlate the major biblical themes of creation, fall and redemption to the business of making art. This book, as few others do, raises significant issues for people who are serious about art and Christianity. |
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Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality By Donald Miller Can you love a God who doesn't make sense? Like Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies, Miller's memoir-like collection of essays wrestles with the paradoxes of the Christian faith, describing his journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely gracious Savior. A mind-changing perspective for those who believe that organized religion doesn't meet their spiritual needs. 256 pages, softcover from Nelson. |
Websites dealing with all aspects of Christian Creativity.
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Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts By Philip Graham Ryken What does God say about the Arts? Can you be a Christian and an artist? How do the arts impact your church? The creation sings to us with the visual beauty of God's handiwork. But what of man-made art? Much of it is devoid of sacred beauty and is often rejected by Christians. Christian artists struggle to find acceptance within the church. If all of life is to be viewed as "under the lordship of Christ" can we rediscover what God's plan is for the arts? |
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Creative Spirituality By Robert Wuthnow Creative Spirituality, an intriguing discussion on the artistic process, zeroes in on the mysterious place where creativity and the sacred meet. As more and more artists admit to seeking and experiencing divine inspiration, author Robert Wuthnow decided to examine this important link. Relying on his expansive knowledge of spirituality and culture, he offers this groundbreaking book that speaks to the ways morality and spirit influence the modern arts. |
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Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture By William D. Romanowski How should Christians interact with popular art and culture? Should we condemn it wholesale? Should we appropriate its practices and trends, infusing them with spiritual justification? Should we simply consume it, without really appraising it? None of the above, says William Romanowski in Eyes Wide Open. He feels that "ultimately ...these approaches are unattractive options, primarily because they tend to restrict Christian thinking and cultural engagement to confessional life--worship, prayer, evangelism, ministry, and statements of belief." Why is this a bad thing? Because "it constrains and impoverishes the Christian imagination by prohibiting artists from treating a broad range of topics with a Christian perspective." It also means that "many Christians think that confessional content overrides artistic quality." Romanowski wrote this book to "help Christians work through the implications of faith for artistic activities--whether as artists, critics, or patrons--so that we might become a transforming influence in our media-saturated society...to contribute to the larger task of developing and sustaining a fair and rigorous Christian criticism, one that investigates weaknesses, takes pleasure in achievements, celebrates virtues, and laments failed opportunities. Christians should help preserve the best features, improve the weakest parts, and eliminate the worst traits of popular art." This is how Christians can be salt and light to popular art and culture. Romanowski offers practical advice for our engagement with culture. He looks at important topics like: faith and culture; a Christian worldview; popular art and culture; how to reimagine the popular arts; the current state of art; the Christian cultural landscape; Hollywood's cultural landscape; sex, violence, and materialism; and the virtue of Christian criticism. He also offers an appendix with a matrix for criticism, covering such topics as cultural products, features of the cultural landscape, aesthetic features, perspective, the world (and worldview) behind the art, God, creation, humans, the nature of evil and redemption, authority, sexuality, violence, and reality. The second appendix is a sampling of what form Christian criticism could take, as Romanowski offers an extensive, critical look at the movie Titanic, by James Cameron. This book will open your eyes to the possibilities and problems in popular art and culture. It is a great first step in developing a critical, Christian mind, and it will enable you to engage with our culture in a positive, and transformative way. |
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The Creative Call: An Artist's Response to the Way of the Spirit By Janice Elsheimer Our creativity was meant to be used. Whether you are an artist who has already identified your gifts or you have artistic talent that has never developed, The Creative Call will help you grow closer to becoming the person God designed you to be. This practical and insightful workbook has eight weeks of material plus a ninth-week retreat guide for individual or group use. Here you will further recognize and develop your creativity as you enter a closer relationship with your creator. |
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The New Rebellion Handbook: A Holy Uprising Making Real the Extraordinary in Everyday Life
Awaken a new generation to its heavenly destiny with this revolutionary resource! Fresh perspectives, inspiring biblical insights, and relevant life applications address 24 cutting-edge issues young people care about most, including relationships, money, health, faith, and worship. Ideal for emergent church leaders and young adults passionate about their faith! 352 pages, softcover from Nelson. |
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Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts By Harold M. Best In this fruition of a lifetime of study, reflection and experience, Harold Best casts a holistic vision for worship as continuous outpouring in all settings and contexts. With careful exposition and eloquent analysis, Best addresses popular misunderstandings about the use of music and offers correctives toward a more biblically consistent practice of artistic action. Incisive, provocative, profound and comprehensive, Best's landmark volume is one by which all other statements on worship and the arts will be measured. |
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Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith By Rob Bell The world has changed dramatically since the first century... but Jesus hasn't. In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace, sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony. Could we convince a highly wired, cynical culture to start listening again? 208 pages, hardcover from Zondervan. |
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Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive By John Eldredge In Waking the Dead John Eldredge cuts straight to the heart. With characteristic insight and wit, Eldredge explains how the renewed heart is at the center of the Christian faith. Eldredge also explores how Christian practices such as discipleship revitalize our hearts by empowering us to love God more passionately and live for the hearts of others. Waking the Dead will inspire and encourage you as you learn to live from the heart. |
Websites dealing with all aspects of Christian Creativity.