Art and Faith

A Theology of Making

De: Makoto Fujimura, N.T. Wright - foreword

Narrado por: David Shih

From a world-renowned painter, an exploration of creativity's quintessential - and often overlooked - role in the spiritual life

Conceived over 30 years of painting and creating in his studio, this book is Makoto Fujimura's broad and deep exploration of creativity and the spiritual aspects of "making". What he does in the studio is theological work as much as it is aesthetic work. In between pouring precious, pulverized minerals onto handmade paper to create the prismatic, refractive surfaces of his art, he comes into the quiet space in the studio, in a discipline of awareness, waiting, prayer, and praise.

Ranging from the Bible to T. S. Eliot, and from Mark Rothko to Japanese Kintsugi technique, he shows how unless we are making something, we cannot know the depth of God's being and God's grace permeating our lives. This poignant and beautiful book offers the perspective of, in Christian Wiman's words, "an accidental theologian", one who comes to spiritual questions always through the prism of art.

©2020 Makoto Fujimura (P)2021 eChristian

This book changed my life

Thank you for writing this! I wept when I read it. As an artist and a christian I loved the why and for whom do we create question presented in chapt 2. The exploration of death and suffering through the lenses of sanctification was poignant as was your revelation on Mary’s extravagant gift to Christ. Loved this and want to read again! So many good nuggets of truth and beauty. Thank you

Good read with challenging messages

This worth the time to listen carefully too. Strong biblically based challenge to contemporary Protestant theology.

Reads like a homily

Many scriptural references. Convicts the artist to create based upon his or her Christian beliefs.

great into to faith & art for nonartists

for those who wrestle with seeing the value of art or wonder what role it plays in the Christian life, this book is an excellent starting point. it's an easy listen without being too technical, but it is deeply moving in demonstrating how art helps us see the world as Jesus does, chipping away at our pervasive idol of utilitarianism. I can't do the book justice!

Deep and Thought-Provoking

I have often thought about myself as an artist being made in the image of God, our Creator; but this book made me think more about being like Jesus. Jesus makes all things new and an artist also brings about the new through creation.

I like that this book quoted scripture a lot, but at times I would have to replay parts of the audiobook to follow what the author was trying to say. I almost wished I had the hard copy to reread and highlight the many excellent quotes.

Thought provoking

It gave me much to think about as an artist…one made in God’s image.
Thanks

Beautiful and inspiring

I loved this unique book so much. Very grateful to have a Christian artists perspective on what it means and our calling to co-create.

Bomb Book

I overall really liked the book. It is so cool to see art and my faith intermingle. At Christian Colleges they have a class called art and faith. Being at CSUF, a secular school, I feel like I got to have a little bit of that pricey Christian education through this book!

Thought provoking and inspiring

Imagination and new newness. This was an encouraging challenge to think of art as a way towards Jesus’ wedding feast and his new kingdom. How we can use our art now as an invitation to the world to the gospel.

Profound and Encouraging Read

This book was incredibly encouraging to me as an artist and it beautifully framed the act of making in the theology of resurrection. I had been struggling to find my place in a local utilitarian church and that problem is not solved but I am much clearer eyed about the value of art in general and my call as an artist filled with Jesus’ Spirit.