Spirit and Beauty: An Introduction to Theological Aesthetics

by Patrick Sherry

Overview

Many Christian theologians have associated beauty, both in nature and art, with the Holy Spirit. They include early Fathers like St Irenaeus and St Clement of Alexandria, as well as later writers like Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Sergius Bulgakov and Hans Urs von Balthasar. This text investigates what they said and why. In doing so, it also serves as an introduction to the whole area of theological aesthetics. Besides exploring the connection between the Holy Spirit and beauty, it ranges more widely by considering topics such as divine glory, inspiration and the eschatological character of beauty. Its discussions bring together two areas of lively interest in contemporary Christianity: the theology of the Holy Spirit and theological aesthetics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780334028659
Publisher:	Hymns Ancient & Modern
Publication date:	06/17/2010
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 5.50(h) x 9.12(d)

Table of Contents

1.	Introduction: The Holy Spirit and Aesthetics	1
	A Glance at History	4
	The Dog that didn't Bark	17
	Some Modern Problems	21
2.	Types of Beauty	28
	The Variety of Beauty	29
	Beauty and Analogy	36
	Some Other Aesthetic Concepts	40
	Objectivity and Standards	43
	The Moral and Religious Significance of Beauty	49
3.	God's Beauty	53
	God's Beauty: The Sources	55
	Reasons for Ascribing Beauty to God	62
	The One God and the Trinity	71
4.	The Holy Spirit in the Trinity	77
	The Holy Spirit and Beauty	78
	Trinitarian Approaches	82
	East versus West	90
5.	Inspiration and Imagination	100
	The Nature of Inspiration	101
	Widening the Concept	106
	Imagination and Inspiration	109
	Inspiration and Explanation	114
6.	Reflections of Divine Beauty	121
	Reflections, Likenesses, and Other Relations	122
	Likeness to God	128
	A Minimal Solution	137
7.	Anticipating the Final Transfiguration of Things	142
	The Holy Spirit, Transfiguration, and Glory	144
	Beauty and Sanctity as First-Fruits	150
	The Life to Come	154
8.	Conclusion	160
	Retrospect	161
	Openness to the Spirit	164
9.	Postscript [2002]	167
	Select Bibliography	175
	Index	180

Editorial Reviews

'A rich and fascinating exploration of the connection between beauty and the Holy Spirit.' Theology; 'A little masterpiece....' Modern Theology; 'A fine and careful book for scholars and students.' Theological Book Review

From the Publisher