Items included on this page come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.

Christian Colleges Expand Offerings in the Visual Arts

Fine Arts

From Word to image: Christian colleges expand visual art programs — Over the past decade, more than 85 Christian colleges and universities have added new degree programs in the arts, according to data from college associations. At least 10 have introduced new degrees specifically in visual arts since 2012. Some have also hired new visual arts […]

Seeking Sacred Space

Fine Arts, Social Sciences

The changing nature of sacred spaces: While for the present time congregation-based religion is contracting, the desire for sacred or devoted space continues.  Students can use this article and photo spread to consider the Reformation’s themes on incarnational theology and a biblical anthropology of space and location as well as our incorrigibly human inclination toward the transcendent […]

A Spiritual-not-religious Campus Sanctuary

A new kind of sacred space on campus: Despite a drop in enthusiasm for organized religion among young people, many are still looking for avenues to spirituality that value dialogue, understanding, empathy and authenticity. The recently opened Snyder Sanctuary at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., is an architectural answer to facilitate this spiritual search, to help people of […]

Applying Reformation Insights to Modern Art

Dr. Daniel Siedell presentation, “Who’s Afraid of Modern Art”: In this 45 min. video Art Historian Dan Siedell presents both a perspective on the modern art scene and engaging its content by applying key Reformation themes such as justified-and-sinful, vocation, and the two kingdoms. The presentation may suggest some ways for other academic disciplines to locate […]

Leviticus as a Lens on the Human Condition

In Judaism, Holiness Is as Holiness Does: The fire at the core of Leviticus — Students may find interesting Rabbi David Wolpe’s observations about Leviticus and Lutheran theologian Rudolph Otto on the numinous and the human condition. Leviticus would seem to lend itself to Otto’s approach.  Not a rational or utilitarian pursuit, sacrifice required acknowledgment of […]

An Intro to Christian Business and LGBT Civil Rights

Christian Bakers, Gay Weddings, and a Question for the Supreme Court: This readable article provides a succinct and balanced summary of the small business issues of religious freedom and civil rights–mom-and-pop stores, artistic liberty, corporate regulation, and competing goods in the commonwealth. It can serve as an introduction to the court cases, arguments, and principles at […]

Photo Essay: Anabaptist in America

Fine Arts

Anabaptist in America: This set of photographs portrays Anabaptist life in Lancaster, PA.  The photos have no captions and invite students to an exploration of Menno Simons’ (1496-1561) reformation themes in the Low countries as well as Amish piety and the works of Swiss Anabaptist Jakob Ammann (b. 1644).  Their understanding of the two kingdoms […]

Beyond the Culture Wars: Culture Care for Christians and Other Artists

Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life by Makato Fujimura (IVP, 2017) — In Culture Care, artist-author Fujimura issues a call to cultural stewardship, in which we become generative and feed our culture’s soul with beauty, creativity, and generosity. We serve others as cultural custodians of the future. This book on cultural stewardship is […]

 

Models, Examples, and Suggestions for Instruction

 
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