A beauty that will save the world : reawakening a disenchanted age to transcendence through beauty and the imagination

1 online resource (xi, 226 leaves)

Includes abstract

D. Min. Covenant Theological Seminary; 2025

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-226)

Titolo

• A beauty that will save the world : reawakening a disenchanted age to transcendence through beauty and the imagination

Ultima modifica

• 10/14/2025

Creatore

• Smith, Corey J.

Abstract

• The purpose of this study was to explore how pastors prioritize an apologetic understanding of beauty to engage a disenchanted age with the gospel. Many in the West are no longer enchanted by the gospel but are instead jaded and ignorant about Christianity. Beauty is essential for cutting through disenchantment because it possesses a persuasive power to rend the heart. Truth is essential; however, when isolated from beauty it is stripped of its allure. This study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews to gather data. Nine pastors from various denominations, cultural backgrounds, and artistic fields with over ten years of preaching experience were interviewed. The research focused on four questions: the priority of an apologetic understanding of beauty, awareness of the power of the arts, challenges in prioritizing beauty, and methods in their creative process. The literature review focused on three fundamental areas: disenchantment in late modernity, a theology of beauty, and the role of the imagination in re-enchantment. This study concluded that there are three crucial components to engaging a disenchanted age with the gospel. First, beauty is a compelling force that captivates attention, invites individuals to taste and see the goodness of Christ, and allows truth to make the final push into belief. Second, the imagination plays a critical role in conveying meaning and is necessary for reasoning. Third, the arts have immense power to reawaken a sense of transcendence. Related to these three components, this study found that experienced preachers face three significant challenges when communicating in a secular age: an overinflated sense of self, a crisis of meaning, and suspicion toward the arts. To address these challenges, this study identified several provocative methods in the creative process aimed at awakening disenchanted individuals to a sense of transcendence. These methods include slowing down to pay attention, engaging poetry and fables, contrasting different worldviews, and inviting listeners to consider the strange new world of biblical reality.

Collaboratore

• Covenant Theological Seminary

data di creazione

• 2025

Identifier

• Smith_Corey_DMin_2025.pdf
• 1545100458

Lingua

• English

Editore

• Covenant Theological Seminary

Tipo di risorsa

• Dissertation

Dichiarazione sui diritti

• In Copyright

Soggetto

• Aesthetics -- Religious aspects -- Christianity
• Christianity and the arts
• Apologetics
• Imagination -- Religious aspects -- Christianity
• Clergy -- Interviews

Formato del file

• PDF