This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that twenty-first-century churches, like the churches of every… Read More »Article 13: On Today’s Congregational Music
During the years I was in college and the one year before I was married, I ate a lot of junk food. I grew to… Read More »Change your tastes
This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that inordinate expressions of worship often arise from… Read More »Article 9: On Harmony and Variety in Ordinate Expression
Beauty has been classically defined as that which pleases when apprehended (Thomas Aquinas). Both terms in that definition are worth considering. First, “apprehended.” Beauty can… Read More »Beauty
This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that ordinate affections are often expressed and evoked through… Read More »Article 8: On Works of the Imagination
This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that beauty exists in reality and is to be… Read More »Article 6: On Beauty
Debates over worship usually center on the issue of form. “Don’t elevate form over content,” the progressives cry. “Content is what is important; it really doesn’t matter… Read More »Form and content are not easily separable
Quentin Faulkner’s analysis of the impact of Romantic aesthetic philosophy on the church and its music is enlightening (pun intended) and helpful: The nineteenth century was… Read More »Music: a Theological Orphan
One of the most difficult matters when having debates over aesthetics (that is, beauty and meaning in the arts) is the terms we employ. For… Read More »Subjectively universal
Jonathan Edwards has some fairly well-developed theories of art and aesthetics that can inform discussions of Christian aesthetics today. In particular, Edwards discussed the importance… Read More »Edwards, the imagination, music, and the sacraments
Leading 20th century Roman Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar contended that Protestantism had no place for beauty in its theology. “Contemporary Protestant theology nowhere… Read More »Are Protestants Afraid of Beauty?
Yesterday, Scott Aniol showed that Martin Luther was influenced by Greek aesthetics, including that of Plato. In light of Dr. Aniol’s post, it is worth… Read More »Calvin and Platonic aesthetics
When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the church at Wittenburg in 1517, he not only sparked a theological reformation in the… Read More »The Influence of Greek Thought on Martin Luther’s Aesthetics
Imagine I tell my wife that I want to take her to a special place for our anniversary. We arrange for a babysitter for our… Read More »Is there a biblical standard for judging beauty?
Conservative evangelicals admirably repudiate emergent leaders who argue that both content and form must be contextualized; evangelicals insist that since God’s Word is inspired and… Read More »Aesthetic correspondence
Unless you believe in orthopathy as essential to Christianity, the worship wars are much ado over nothing. They represent the dying thrashes of hide-bound traditionalists,… Read More »Why We Need The Worship Wars
As Kaplan concludes, he considers the social functions of popular art. He sees its appeal in finding a common denominator among people. It is popular… Read More »Concluding Thoughts
Did you see The Bible movie produced for the History Channel? I confess to you that, being fully immersed in New Testament studies for going… Read More »Bible movie reflections
Popular art is accused of being escapist. Kaplan agrees and disagrees. He argues that popular art seeks to escape the ugliness or troubles of this… Read More »Escape To Never Never Land
Kaplan disputes the idea that popular art provides relief from boredom. In one very real sense, it perpetuates it. The key difference between serious or… Read More »Sentimentality and Increasing Boredom