As religious affiliation declines, can art provide fresh ways of exploring the questions posed by theology? Might art – its creation as well as reception – lead to the discovery of new spiritual information? What do faith traditions lose when they overemphasize the written word and neglect the role of images?
Historically, faith traditions have focused on both the written word and images as sources of knowledge and meaning. Some would claim that words have taken undue precedence as theologies have developed, while images seem to have been left behind. Has this shift in focus left us wanting?
Art and theology have more in common than is seen at first glance. As George Pattison, a philosopher of religion, has argued: ‘Theology can learn from the particularity, the integrity, the will to wholeness and the pluralism of art’. Both theology and art can help us find new ways to engage with faith and discover reality, seen and unseen. Sometimes, our words fail us, and we need another option to reveal what we revere.
Two years ago, I received a Templeton Foundation Grant focused on ‘Art Seeking Understanding’. This video is a precursor to a larger related book project. In it, I do my best to tell my story, shedding some light on our cultural/religious stagnation.
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Art/s and Theology Australia 
Thank you for sharing this wonderful interview.