Religion Expressed Through Art

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Religion through art form provides us with a vision into a realm of heavenly beauty. Religion provides us with a sense of spirit fulfilment. It is only through worship and devotion that we feel connected to God. The practice of devotion and worship takes place in churches and cathedrals. It is these places that help us gain knowledge and a deeper more spiritual meaning of God. The churches and cathedrals are the very foundation of religious practice and devotion to God in my opinion. They are known as temples, ceremonial places, and are places of worship to God. However it is the claim that ‘art museums in the modern period fulfil some of the same functions as cathedrals and churches have done in the past’, which challenges contemporary role of churches and cathedrals. To be convinced by this claim, the first thing that the reader must know that I agree to an extent with the claim mentioned above. This is important to note because in the course of this essay I both agree and disagree.

In terms of the claim mentioned before it is noteworthy to understand the functions of both modern art museums and churches and cathedrals of the past. By focusing on (1) the modern art museums vs. cathedrals and churches of the past (2) the ritual of experience museums and churches (3) secular knowledge that art museums provide and (4) why I think art museums are the new platform for artist. In this essay I will use examples such as the Louvre in Paris and The National Gallery in London along with St. Pauls Cathedral in London and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to support my argument.

Looking at John Updike’s article ‘Invisible Cathedral’ in the New Yorker where he examines the construction and architecture of the new Museum of Modern Art...

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...suggests visitors of art museums undertake a ritual experience. I believe this experience is something that had once occurred in churches and cathedrals: devotion and worship. In the course of this essay I focused on three main areas (1) the modern art museums vs. cathedrals and churches of the past (2) the ritual of experience museums and churches (3) and secular knowledge that art museums provide. Along with this I provide my opinion on why I believe art museums became a platform for artist to stand on over cathedrals and churches. While the primary goal of this essay was to establish my opinion on the aforesaid claim I also introduce ideas of my own. In the end, I do agree with the claim but only in the context of secular views that art museums have because they are not entirely religious in there view of art.

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