Religious Art: Yea or Nay?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

(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

[The Grand Nudger]

Absolutely, though christian fetishism is less appealing to me than other types.  You can only look at a sanitized picture of a man with a halo so many times.  

Needs moar ta-tas.

[vorlon13]

Another portrayal of Mammon.

(Yeah, I lurv Mammon)

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[Longhorn]

Classical music. Enough said.

[Brian37]

(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.

[Mr.Obvious]

I can like religious art. Some of my favorite songs are religious. (See: o' brother where art thou)
Though i think it a false assumption to think Michelangelo or Leonardo da vinci or The likes were religious. They might have been. But they lived in a time in which most of their work was contracted by The church. If there had been other less religious organizations employing them, perhaps The art they made would have been less religious.

[Brian37]

I can like religious art. Some of my favorite songs are religious. (See: o' brother where art thou)
Though i think it a false assumption to think Michelangelo or Leonardo da vinci or The likes were religious. They might have been. But they lived in a time in which most of their work was contracted by The church. If there had been other less religious organizations employing them, perhaps The art they made would have been less religious.

Ugggggg, music is different to me. I cannot get into religious music no matter how well the instruments are played. If you are singing a song about humans with super powers or sky heros I cant get into it.

[Mr.Obvious]

I can like religious art. Some of my favorite songs are religious. (See: o' brother where art thou)
Though i think it a false assumption to think Michelangelo or Leonardo da vinci or The likes were religious. They might have been. But they lived in a time in which most of their work was contracted by The church. If there had been other less religious organizations employing them, perhaps The art they made would have been less religious.

Ugggggg, music is different to me. I cannot get into religious music no matter how well the instruments are played. If you are singing a song about humans with super powers or sky heros I cant get into it.

This is The ultimate showdown of ultimate history...

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

"Religious" is a loaded word.

 
How so?

Buddhism is a religion, so is Hinduism, so is any polytheism, such as the ancient Greeks and Romans and ancient Egyptians.

 
I take it that this means I should have included examples of non-Christian art.  Fair enough.  The Taj Mahal, the bead work of Native Americans, pre-Christian Celtic knotwork (both inscribe and cast), and many more.

The only difference between mythology and religion is that mythology is religion that is dead, and religion is a word used for thing

s still believed.

True, but hardly germane to the topic.

Having said that, I certainly have seen religious art that is beautiful.

So, your answer to my question is 'yes'.  Thank you.

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.

 
You grasp that my question doesn't  require anyone to enjoy religious art, I hope.

But lets be clear, finding any religious art beautiful does not make any religion the one true religion.

No one said it did.  I asked if you can appreciate religious art as art.

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.

Agreed, although you're one up on me, as I haven't seen these in person.

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.

Again, you address a point that no one raised.
Boru

[Brian37]

Ugggggg, music is different to me. I cannot get into religious music no matter how well the instruments are played. If you are singing a song about humans with super powers or sky heros I cant get into it.

This is The ultimate showdown of ultimate history...

No, a meteor killing our species, and the sun eventually killing our entire solar system is our "ultimate" history. Claims of Gods are on par with Marvel or D.C. comics, but not much more than that.