Theology and the Arts: Encountering God Through Music, Art, and Rhetoric (Paperback)

by Richard Viladesau (Author) "Recent years have seen a remarkable seen renewal of interest in sacred music..." (more)
Key Phrases: aesthetic theology, foundational theology, theological aesthetics, New Testament, Last Supper, Roman Catholic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
An indispensable text for all seminary libraries and for other academic collections that support graduate level theological programs. -- Catholic Library World

The author explores the theology of beauty in a challenging, well-informed and highly readable way. -- Ministry and Liturgy

The book is an accessible contribution to a subject which certainly ought to be of real concern to us. -- The Christian Parapsychologist

This is a perfect solution for a book on art that aspires to be persuasive, and yet remains reasonably priced. -- Modern Theology

With this book Viladesau opens a long overdue conversation. -- The Living Light

Product Description
Richard Viladesau's book takes a look at an inviting topic that has come into increasing prominence in a number of fields lately--including theology. Theology and the Arts explores, in a timely and engaging manner, several aspects of the relations between theology and aesthetics, in both the pastoral and academic realms. The underlying motif of this work is that beauty is a means of divine revelation, and that art is the human mediation that both enables and limits its revelatory power.

Using examples from music, pictorial art and rhetoric, the five chapters explore different aspects of the ways that art enters into theology and theology into art, both in pastoral practice, e.g., liturgical music, sacred art and preaching, and in the area of systematic reflection, where, Viladesau contends, art must be recognized as a genuine theological text.

A reader-friendly feature of this work is the addition, after the central chapters, of a discography of illustrative musical works and lists of internet sights of sacred art and art history resources-a virtual museum-- that will complement the text. These enhance the value of this well-written, provocative text. Although aimed at undergraduate theology students, it will certainly capture the interest of art students, pastoral ministers and anyone who appreciates the arts.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809139278
• ISBN-13: 978-0809139279
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #496,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)