The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts (Wheaton Literary) [Paperback]

Leland Ryken (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Shaw Books (March 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877884951
• ISBN-13: 978-0877884958
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #669,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) is Professor of English at Wheaton College. He has authored or edited several books, including The Word of God in English, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, and The Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society and served as literary stylist for The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommend to Christian Artists and Educators., January 26, 2000

By 

Connie - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts (Wheaton Literary) (Paperback)

The intro lists the key doctrines related to the arts. other highlights (for this painter/art educator)include chapter 2: "What the Bible says about the Arts", ch.4: "The World of Imagination", ch.7:"What is Christian Art?". the summaries at the end of the chapters, along with the lists for further reading and bibliographies are also very valuable. readable & helpful. I appreciate the hard questions that Ryken asks, and his devotion to the arts and literature in a day that embraces trivial pop culture.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars insightful,crucial study for any student of arts and christ, February 14, 1999

By 

Michael D. Willett ([e-mail]) (phx, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts (Wheaton Literary) (Paperback)

Lee Ryken offers the world of biblical scholarship a wake up call to an all too often ignored subject in church circles - the arts. the question of how exactly those seriously pursuing a life of artistic integrity melded their passion with Christ and his message - has been a tight-rope walk for the christian artist for decades. Insightful and well written, this book brings to bear a reconciliation of too-often-thought diametrically opposed disciplines into a marrage of calling and creatorship.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise Introduction to Christian Concepts of the Arts, April 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts (Wheaton Literary) (Paperback)

Ryken's clear prose makes this book stand out from other introductions to the arts. The organization of concepts and examples give readers a good grasp of basic issues within specific art forms. Ryken also identifies Christian philosophies of the arts, assisting the reader to articulate his or her own philosophy through development of or comparison to the ideas in the text. I have used this text successfully with advanced high school students as well as with college students. Enjoyable reading--not dry!