Many of the most enduring displays of human artistic greatness have been, in some way, religious.
The Egyptian pyramids were constructed to accommodate the needs of a king’s soul after his death.
The oldest architectural structures still standing today are almost exclusively temples, and archaeologists hypothesize that many ancient cave paintings depict religious scenes and images.
As history progressed, towering cathedrals, opulent mosques, and brilliantly ornate Hindu temples were erected and maintained for centuries. Worshipful hymns and poems abound in nearly all religious communities. Sacred texts are transcribed with careful calligraphy and detailed illustrations. Elaborate dances celebrate the supernatural, and massive marble statues are carefully carved to depict the holiest beings
The beautiful things that humans have made throughout time, have most often been made for a deity.
But, in a secularized world, the purpose of art is much more varied. Today, art is most often defined as creative self-expression—there has been a clear shift from creating for a higher power to creating for the rest of humanity.
But, has the absence of spiritual motivation made art worse, or has the decision to tell human stories for a human audience made excellence more attainable?
Actor, director, and producer David Henrie is interested in this question. It’s one of the reasons he recently took a trip to Italy. This trip was filmed and is now available as a 6 episode documentary series called “Seeking Beauty” in which Henrie engages with some of the most sacred Italian churches and artwork to understand the motivations and beliefs of the artists who created them.
Religion Unplugged’s Culture Critic Joseph Holmes interviewed Henrie to understand his own faith journey and what he learned from centuries of Italian Catholicism.
Seeking Beauty: https://www.ewtn.com/programs/9875-seeking-beauty
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