I have been saying this for YEARS bc like— this is what God means to me. I’m a Christian, and I believe God called us to explore and create in this magical world we have. I totally get not everyone likes religion, and I respect that, but I’d love to talk more about intentionality in art :)
HIIIIII! Nice to meet you! YES! When I was a practicing Christian I wondered why this perspective wasn't explored more. It often felt like the concept of creating was for one person (God) and we were just here as God's instrument being swept along for the ride. Co-creation wasn't really a thing in the churches I went to and it's one of the reasons I moved away from it. When I was a kid I decided that whatever religion someone believed was the right one for them, and that hasn't changed a whole lot over the years. 💗 How have you incorporated creativity into your spiritual practice (or vice versa)?
Have you heard of Tolkien’s fictional god “Illuvatar?” He’s the master, main creator god of the LOTR universe. But illuvatar didn’t make everything— he barely even made most things! He made the few “smaller gods” and a few sentient races and the rest was up to the smaller gods.
My English professor at my Christian university told me this and I was shocked. It changed my whole theology!! This is what I believe God helped Tolkien say, helped Tolkien make a metaphor that could expound upon humanity and God and creation’s interactions. Does that make any sense??
I just think God made us to create, preferably good, but he gave us free will. He lets us make art that hurts people. Like propaganda posters in 1940’s Germany. That was art. But it hurt people. Spiritually, I believe God has made us to, in an ideal world, show the love and beauty of even the “grossest” things around us. ((That’s why I write about mold so much!!))
And I guess what I’m saying is that God made us to live and live and explore and create. I’m trying my best here, but the words aren’t coming out right.
YES! What you're saying about Tolkein's God and free will make perfect sense and your words are coming out just fine! :) What I think you're saying is that we're not merely puppets...we're more like Pinnochio after he comes to life. God is our Jiminy Cricket.
Jen- this is lovely. So thought through. Really loving your exploration and detail in the tenets. I too am so interested in how art and our spirit or spiritual self intersect. I am really looking forward to following along with this project of yours. Is this a physical space the “church”?
I have been saying this for YEARS bc like— this is what God means to me. I’m a Christian, and I believe God called us to explore and create in this magical world we have. I totally get not everyone likes religion, and I respect that, but I’d love to talk more about intentionality in art :)
HIIIIII! Nice to meet you! YES! When I was a practicing Christian I wondered why this perspective wasn't explored more. It often felt like the concept of creating was for one person (God) and we were just here as God's instrument being swept along for the ride. Co-creation wasn't really a thing in the churches I went to and it's one of the reasons I moved away from it. When I was a kid I decided that whatever religion someone believed was the right one for them, and that hasn't changed a whole lot over the years. 💗 How have you incorporated creativity into your spiritual practice (or vice versa)?
Have you heard of Tolkien’s fictional god “Illuvatar?” He’s the master, main creator god of the LOTR universe. But illuvatar didn’t make everything— he barely even made most things! He made the few “smaller gods” and a few sentient races and the rest was up to the smaller gods.
My English professor at my Christian university told me this and I was shocked. It changed my whole theology!! This is what I believe God helped Tolkien say, helped Tolkien make a metaphor that could expound upon humanity and God and creation’s interactions. Does that make any sense??
I just think God made us to create, preferably good, but he gave us free will. He lets us make art that hurts people. Like propaganda posters in 1940’s Germany. That was art. But it hurt people. Spiritually, I believe God has made us to, in an ideal world, show the love and beauty of even the “grossest” things around us. ((That’s why I write about mold so much!!))
And I guess what I’m saying is that God made us to live and live and explore and create. I’m trying my best here, but the words aren’t coming out right.
YES! What you're saying about Tolkein's God and free will make perfect sense and your words are coming out just fine! :) What I think you're saying is that we're not merely puppets...we're more like Pinnochio after he comes to life. God is our Jiminy Cricket.
YES!!!!!!!!
Love this, Jen - creativity as a spiritual practice makes total sense!
You’ve been called
Jen- this is lovely. So thought through. Really loving your exploration and detail in the tenets. I too am so interested in how art and our spirit or spiritual self intersect. I am really looking forward to following along with this project of yours. Is this a physical space the “church”?