The Arts and Expression of Religious Ideas

The Arts and Expression of Religious Ideas

I believe that arts are the best way to express religious ideas. I

have several reasons for thinking this. Firstly, art may be the only

way for some people to express their faith. For example illiterate

people would be able to paint a picture of those they admire, as a way

to connect and pay tribute to their faith.

I also believe that many pieces of artwork can make people feel awe

and wonder. For example 'Rublev's Trinity' is a beautiful piece of

artwork, which many people have admired, especially in those days when

such colours (used in the painting) were a rarity. But it could be

argued that with such paintings there is a danger of idolatry, meaning

instead of people worshipping the Christian God, they actually begin

to worship the painting itself. This would be wrong and a distraction

from their faith. Many Christians and Buddhists, among other religious

groups value their paintings and statues very highly, because the

pictures represent something special in the same way that a pictures

of one's mother would be very special. But statues and paintings are

representations and as such are valued, but should not be mistaken for

the real holy being of whom it should remind them.

For instance 'Lesser Brethren', is a picture of a fairytale Jesus,

where animals surround him. This particular painting is not in line

with the gospels. Jesus is painted with too much sentimentality. He

seems too 'Walt Disney' like, and it portrays his character wrongly,

which is dangerous as people could misinterpret it. Unfortunately

through artwork, there is a danger that the original meaning of the

gospels may be lost, as too much work goes into what they think Jesus

looks like, and they forget what he really would have looked like, an

Arab. However this painting may provide reassurance for some

Christians as is lessens the pain of life after death. The fairytale

image encourages them to be good in order to ensure a place in heaven,

where nothing seems to go wrong.