What is Christian Art?

(Originally written May 8, 2007 in Book 15)

What is Christian Art?

What constitutes Christian art is important on three levels:

1) Measuring the worldview of works by a Christian standard is the distinctive interest of Christian criticism
2) It is important in the academic criticism of the arts
3) It is a perennial question facing Christian artists

Some Fallacies

Art is never totally neutral. W.H. Auden was simply wrong in asserting that there can be no such thing as Christian art.

Ideas, opinions, attitudes, and statements about life are true or false.

Every artist's work shows a moral and intellectual bias.

There is not however as Francis Schaffer pointed out a godly or ungodly style.

There is no ungodly form of art.

Likewise a particular style of music is not godly or wicked.

The Christian element of art is neither stylistic nor is it primarily the subject matter.

Christian art is not always religious art.

The loose equation of religious art and Christian art is a major fallacy in academic circles.

The practice of allegorizing every work of art is a fallacy in Christian's perspectives.

The Variety of Ways in Which Art can be Christian

There should not be a single criterion applied or all work will be labeled as Christian or non-Christian.

It is more useful to talk about how art intersects with Christianity.

Christian Allusions

Allusions or symbolic things that point to Christian doctrine show the artist's familiarity with Christianity.

These are not wholly reliable criteria for labeling a work Christian.

Allusion and symbol are a part of an artist's language.

Christian references do not necessarily imply a Christian viewpoint.

William Wadsworth used Biblical idiom tastefully to express a romantic worldview and expound pantheistic religious experience.

Allusions to Christianity cannot stand alone as a criteria to show a work to be Christian.

Inclusively Christian Viewpoints (x problem in paper)

An artist may choose to embody values or viewpoints which are inclusively Christian.

It should not be surprising that non-Christians to produce works that are true to Christian belief.

Exclusively Christian Viewpoints

Lastly, an artist may incorporate exclusive Christian viewpoints.

By referencing the Christian God (or aspects of him unique to him) it makes it an exclusive Christian viewpoint.

The Christian Vision in Beowulf

Many have suggested that Beowulf is an allegory of Christ.

Christian allusions in Beowulf

The use of Christian allusions in Beowulf does not make it a Christian piece.

The Hero & Ethos of the Story

Does Christianity idealize the type of hero that Beowulf does?

There are aspects of Beowulf that are similar to Christianity.

Elements that contradict a Christian outlook

The hero possesses inclusive Christian virtues but also ones that violate Christian ethics. He is proud and boastful and not humble.

Some telling Omissions

There is a controversial issue with no unanimous meeting by Christians.