Art and Religion

9781406752960

1406752967

One puts forth any venture of constructive suggestion for these confused times only with the greatest diffidence, knowing far better than any critic can know the weaknesses and ignorances revealed. Yet there need be no diffidence about any fresh testimony that beauty is desirable and good: nor about the consequent contention that the religion of Protestantism stands profoundly in need of realizing it. This, together with some practical explications, is all I want to say to churchmen. To artists and lovers of the beautiful, I want to speak my definite expectation of a time soon to come again when patrons of the arts will see in the religious institution an incomparable opportunity for the most pervasive influence of beauty upon the people. Every church building in village or city should itself be a noble work of art. And the arts have each a proper place in the fostering of the supreme experience of worship.