Visually Sacred: Conversations on the Power of Images

• Peter Casarella: Cultural Symbols in Religion

  Peter has been a Professor at Duke Divinity School since 2020. Before Duke, he taught at Notre Dame and was the founding director of DePaul’s Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology. He has published a monograph, Word as Bread: Language and Theology in Nicholas of Cusa. On November 15, 2024, his edited volume of the essays of Louis Dupré, Thinking the Unknowable, appeared with the University of Notre Dame Press.​In this conversation, Peter and I explored the relationship between art and theology with a focus on both theological aesthetics and the prophetic role of art. We discussed the influence of the Holy Spirit in the creative process, the significance of cultural symbols, and the contributions of Santero artists in Latin American culture. Our dialogue also touched on the impact of Thomas Merton in visual art, the role of reredos and moradas in Christian art history, and the blending of Spanish and indigenous traditions in Latino art as a reflection of cultural identity and spirituality.

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• Rina Arya: Abjection and Aesthetics

  Rina Arya is a Professor of Critical and Cultural Theory at the University of Hull, UK. She started her academic career working on the role of the sacred in death of God culture, especially in the paintings of Francis Bacon and writings of Georges Bataille, resulting in her acclaimed book "Francis Bacon: Painting in a Godless World". Her work on Bacon led to research in abjection where she wrote a number of articles and books on the subject, notably "Abjection and Representation." Rina is completing her next book on the cultural appropriation of Hinduism.​ In this conversation, Rina and I explored the areas of intersection between contemporary art and theology, focusing on theological aesthetics, embodiment, abjection, and the role of materiality in religious practices. We also discussed how contemporary artists engage with religious motifs, the impact of digital culture on spiritual experiences, and the importance of contemplative spaces in art. Additionally, we spoke about the evolving nature of religious expression in art and considered the potential for interfaith dialogue through artistic practices.

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• Jennifer Awes Freeman: Evolving Religious Imagery

  Jennifer is the Associate Professor and Program Director of Theology and the Arts at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Her recent publications include "The Good Shepherd: Image, Meaning, and Power" and "The Ashburnham Pentateuch and its Contexts." Jennifer earned her PhD in Religion (Historical Studies) from Vanderbilt University, where she focused on early medieval art and theological controversies. Before that, she graduated with an MAR in Visual Studies from the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale Divinity School.​ In this conversation, Jennifer and I explored the agency of images, the implications of iconoclasm, and the evolution of religious representation as it applies to the concepts of the Good Shepherd and the Trinity. We also delved into ritual theory, viewer reception, and the impact of digital culture on our engagement with religious images. Our conversation also addressed the materiality of art, the way perspectives on imagery vary across different Christian traditions, and the importance of presence in both religious and secular art.

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• Mark McInroy: Theological Aesthetics Explored

  Mark is Professor of Theology and Founding Co-Director of the Claritas Initiative on Beauty, Goodness, and Truth at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a constructive and historical theologian with interests in theological aesthetics, theology and the arts, mystical theology, and theories of perception, along with other arenas of inquiry. He is the author of "Balthasar on the Spiritual Senses: Perceiving Splendour," and co-edited "Image as Theology: The Power of Art in Shaping Christian Thought, Devotion, and Imagination," and "The Oxford Handbook of Hans Urs von Balthasar." In this conversation, Mark and I discuss the meaning and importance of theological aesthetics and its emphasis on materiality as a means of divine disclosure, as well as how it might address ideas about judgment and the problem of evil. We also consider the influence of Hans Urs von Balthasar on contemporary ideas related to art and religion, the meaning of beauty as a divine attribute, and the role of beauty, truth, and goodness across various disciplines, including education and science.

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• Introduction to Season 3

  In this season we focus on the varieties of Christian visual representation and their influence on religious belief. Join me as I speak with experts on theological aesthetics and related fields about how our material world conditions our perceptions of the transcendent. From ancient Christian art to contemporary expressions of faith, this season will chart new directions and unpack thought-provoking ideas at the intersection of images and theology.

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