A Sense of the Sacred: Theological Foundations of Christian Architecture and ArtThere have been many histories of Christian art and architecture, and many that have paid attention to the various cultural, social, and economic contexts in which the architecture and art appeared. Most of these accounts have been written by art historians. Kevin Seasoltz writes as a theologian, whose aim is to relate theological and liturgical developments throughout the course of Christian history to developments in sacred architecture and art. Believing that sacred buildings and artifacts have often been more constitutive of theological developments that constitutive of them, Seasoltz wants to help people discover architecture and art as theological loci—places of revelation. Following a chapter on culture as the context for theology, liturgy, and art, Seasoltz surveys developments from the early church up through the conventional artistic styles and periods. He pays particular attention to the conflicts that emerged between religion and art since the Enlightenment and to the significant advances made since the middle of the twentieth century to reconciling a wide range of competent architects, artists, and craft persons to the ministry of the Protestant, Anglican, and Catholic churches. Comprehensive, illuminating, ecumenical. |
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Abbey altar ambo Anglican apse architects art and architecture artists assembly baptism baroque basilica became Benedictine biblical bishop built cathedral Catholic Church century chapel choir christology church architecture church buildings Cistercian classical Collegeville contemporary cross culture death designed developed divine doctrinal Early Christian Art ecclesiology emphasis especially eucharist experience expressed faith God's Gothic Gothic architecture Hence Holy Spirit human persons Ibid images important international style interpretation Jesus Christ Le Corbusier liturgical movement liturgy lives Mary meaning medieval Mepkin Abbey modern monastery monastic monks mystery Native American nave painting period postmodern prayer Protestant Protestant Reformation reform religion religious Renaissance renovation resurrection rites ritual role Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church Romanesque sacramental sacred art Saint sanctuary sculpture Second Vatican Council secular sense social spiritual stained glass structure style symbols temple texts theologians theology tion tradition transcendent University Press visual walls worship York