(January 7, 2018 at 9:51 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: (inspired by the disgusting religious words thread)
Are you able to appreciate religious art as art? In other words, can you separate the art from the artist?
Some of the most breathtakingly beautiful works of art ever produced by humans have been inspired by religion, and executed by deeply religious artists. A few examples include Michelangelo's Pieta, the stained glass at Chartres Cathedral, and Pacher's St. Wolfgang Altarpiece. These (and many more) have always impressed or moved me as much as purely secular art.
Boru
"Religious" is a loaded word. Buddhism is a religion, so is Hinduism, so is any polytheism, such as the ancient Greeks and Romans and ancient Egyptians.
The only difference between mythology and religion is that mythology is religion that is dead, and religion is a word used for things still believed.
Having said that, I certainly have seen religious art that is beautiful. The religious art of the polytheistic Egyptians with it's bright colors I love. I am not fond of the middle age drab art of Gothic Europe or the bland church art of the Americas. I have seen very beautiful Buddhist temples in Japan. But lets be clear, finding any religious art beautiful does not make any religion the one true religion.
The sandstone sculptures of the Ankor Watt dynasty, depicting BOTH Buddhist and Hindu features that I saw at the Smithsonian decades ago, was very beautiful.
I am not for destroying mythological religious art regardless of finding all religions superfluous. Not saying you are implying that, but no, I would not destroy a Jesus painting or blow up a Buddhist statue. It is still part of our species history.
