Table Of ContentCONFLUENCE OF THE ARTS AND THEOLOGY
By
RICHARD ALAN BERRY
B.A. McMaster University, 1979
M.Div., Acadia University, 1983
A Thesis
submitted to the Faculty of Theology, Acadia Divinity College,
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Ministry
Acadia Divinity College,
Acadia University
Spring Convocation, 2014
© By Richard Alan Berry 2014
ii
This thesis by RICHARD ALLAN BERRY was defended successfully in an oral
examination on 1st April 2014.
The examining committee for the thesis was:
Dr. Anna Robbins, Chair
Dr. Maxine Hancock, External Examiner
Dr. Carol Anne Janzen, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. William Brackney, Internal Examiner
This thesis is accepted in its present form by Acadia Divinity College, the Faculty of
Theology of Acadia University, as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Ministry.
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I, RICHARD ALLAN BERRY hereby grant permission to the Head Librarian at Acadia
University to provide copies of this thesis, on request, on a non-profit basis.
Richard Allan Berry
Author
Dr. Carol Anne Janzen
Supervisor
1 April 2014
Date
(This page is blank on purpose.)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONFLUENCE OF THE ARTS AND THEOLOGY ........................................................... 1
Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. iv
Figures .................................................................................................................................... v
Abstract ................................................................................................................................. vi
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... vii
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
Background Context for the Arts ....................................................................................... 2
Purpose of Thesis ............................................................................................................. 14
Chapter 1: Touchstones From the Strength of the Arts ........................................................ 19
Immersion into Situatedness ............................................................................................ 20
Open-ended Exploration of Mystery ................................................................................ 28
Relational Authenticity ..................................................................................................... 35
Suspended Belief .............................................................................................................. 41
Cathartic Confluence ........................................................................................................ 48
Imagination Framework ................................................................................................... 56
Chapter 2: Postmodernity and Receptivity to the Arts ......................................................... 64
Postmodern origins ........................................................................................................... 64
Postmodern developments in theology ............................................................................. 72
Wholistic theology of faith and action ............................................................................. 86
Postmodern Sensitivity to other Worldviews ................................................................... 93
Postmodern Spirituality and the Arts ............................................................................. 101
Chapter 3: Touchstones in Jesus' Teaching ........................................................................ 111
Jesus' teaching style ........................................................................................................ 111
Exchange with Nicodemus - The Seen and the Unseen ................................................. 114
Situatedness of the Context - Nicodemus with Jesus ..................................................... 116
Relational authenticity in Jesus’ words to Nicodemus ................................................... 119
Open-ended Talk of Mystery ......................................................................................... 121
Suspended Belief of Samaritan Woman ......................................................................... 132
Cathartic Confluence Brings Healing and Change ......................................................... 134
Imagination Framework ................................................................................................. 135
Chapter 4: Methodology - The Arts and Theology in Confluence ..................................... 141
Lectio Divina .................................................................................................................. 147
Visio Divina ................................................................................................................... 154
Interviews ....................................................................................................................... 157
Touchstones .................................................................................................................... 161
Chapter 5: A Proposal for the Collaboration of Artists and Theologians .......................... 192
Landmarks on the way forward ...................................................................................... 197
Appendix One - Visio Divina Creating Art ........................................................................ 221
Appendix Two - The Learning Cycle Quadrants ............................................................... 226
Bibliography ....................................................................................................................... 231
Sources Consulted .............................................................................................................. 236
Description:Situatedness of the Context - Nicodemus with Jesus . Figure 27 Mavis' image of landscapes at 90 degrees with prophetic voice may try to express it, but has often been marginalized and Piquant, 2001), 176,177; Fiona Bond, The Arts in Your Church: A Practical Guide (Carlisle: Piquant, 2001),.
