This volume presents the theology-arts conversation from a
distinctly Christian perspective, as a witness of the Gospel of Christ
to the world. A widespread interest in the historical, socio-cultural and political embeddedness of theology and the arts permeates it.
This theme of embeddedness tracks through several overarching and interlocking concerns: the relationship between form and content (in both art and theology), the intensification of the metaphysical and the theological (contra materialist and positivist reductionisms), the expansion of the epistemological possibilities of the theology-art conversation, and a robust understanding of the world as the theatre of God's glory. Several chapters have been co-written by theologians and artists as part of demonstrating the kind of conversation that this book commends. A thorough-going commitment to Scripture is also woven into the many different habits of thought represented in this volume.
Part I surveys different approaches to the theology-arts conversation. Part II focuses on how particular art forms bring theological issues to the surface and how theological and denominational traditions shape the making and receiving of the arts. Part III delves into key topics in the current theology-arts scene and asks how artistic and theological performance can both speak to theological and artistic knowing, and help to celebrate and interrogate embodied, lived reality.
Prologue – A Brief Historical Survey - William Dyrness (Ch. 31, “The Arts” in Oxford Handbook to Systematic Theology [2007], with permission from OUP) Editors’ Introduction to the book Part I: Different Approaches to the Theology-Arts Conversation 1. Theology of Art – Trevor Hart (University of St Andrews, UK) 2. Theology Through the Arts - Jeremy Begbie (Duke Divinity School, USA) 3. Theology as Art - David Brown (University of St Andrews, UK) 4. The Correlation of Theology and Art - Wilson Yates (United Theological Seminary, USA) 5. Theology~Art - Stephen Garrett (Global Scholars) 6. Theo-poetics – Heather Walton (Glasgow University, UK) Part II: Form and Mutual Formation of Theology and the Arts Theology and Artistic Forms 7. Music - Steven Guthrie (Belmont University, USA) 8. Poetry – Maggie Dawn (Yale Divinity School, USA) 9. Lyric – Beth Dodd (Sarum College, UK) 10. Literature - Ben Quash (Kings College London, UK) 11. Drama/theatre – Todd E. Johnson (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) 12. Dance – Anne-Marie Korte (Utrecht University, The Netrherlands) 13. Visual arts – William Dyrness (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) 14. Film & video – Robert Johnston (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) 15. Popular culture – Clive Marsh (Leicester University, UK) Art and Theological Traditions 16. Catholic Neo-Thomist - Judith Wolfe (ITIA, University of St Andrews, UK) 17. Orthodox – Cornelia S. Tsakiridou (La Salle, University, USA) 18. Protestant Evangelical - Kevin Vanhoozer (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA) 19. Pentecostal - Robert Beckford (Canterbury Christ, UK) 20. Analytic/Philosophical - Nicholas Wolterstorff (Yale Divinity School, USA) Part III: Prevalent Themes in the Theology-Arts Conversation Theological performance 23. Trinity and Incarnation – Jeremy Begbie (Duke Divinity School, USA) 24. Creation and Grace – Brett Gray (Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, UK) 25. Beauty and Revelation - Richard Viladesau (Fordham University, USA) 26. Biblical exegesis – Richard Bourne (York St John University, UK) 27. Spirit and Liberation – Dulcie McKenzie (Queen’s Foundation, UK) 28. Tragedy – Giles Waller (Cambridge University, UK) 29. Redemption and Sin – Ferdia Stone-Davis (Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, USA) 30. Apocalyptic, Eschatology, and New Creation – Murray A. Rae (Otago University, New Zealand) 31. Church and Liturgy - David Taylor (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) 32. Sacrament - Rowan Williams (Magdalene College, Cambridge, UK) 33. Hope and Freedom - Gavin Hopps (ITIA, University of St Andrews, UK) Notes on Contributors Glossary Bibliography Index
Stephen M.Garrett is Senior Fellow with the Rivendell Institute at Yale University, USA, and Curriculum Vice-President for Global Scholars. He was formerly Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the Vilnius Academy of Arts in Vilnius, Lithuania. Imogen Adkins is trained in theology and music and teaches Philosophy and Religion at Stowe School, UK. She has previously supervised undergraduates in the Divinity and Music faculties at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Reviews for T&T Clark Handbook of Theology and the Arts
This brilliantly structured volume considers theology and the arts across a remarkably capacious range of topics. It introduces to the theology-and-art conversation a number of artistic forms that do not often receive theological analysis. As broadly as the volume treats its subject matter, however, an equally striking feature is its depth, as engagement with theological topics is rigorously executed by a first-rate set of authors—some of them widely renowned theologians who have not previously published reflections on art. Readers will emerge with the firm conviction that art is not ancillary to theology, but a vital medium for its expression that holds out enormous, multifaceted promise in our contemporary world. * Mark McInroy, University of St. Thomas, USA * Filled with voices from forerunners in the field alongside contributions from a diverse range of newer scholars, this volume is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the conversation between Christian theology and the arts. From methodologies to forms, traditions, and important themes, this book covers it all! Students, scholars, and practitioners in both theology and the arts will find something here to expand their imagination. * Jennifer A. Craft, Point University, USA *
