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The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts: A Comprehensive Exploration of the Interwoven Histories, Practices, and Meanings of Religion and the Arts

Clayton Hayes

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Published in The Oxford Handbook Of Religion And The Arts (Oxford Handbooks)

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Religion and the arts have always been closely intertwined. From the earliest cave paintings to the most modern works of art, religious beliefs and practices have inspired and been expressed through the arts.

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts (Oxford Handbooks)

by Marie Jenkins Schwartz

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10653 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	564 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts is a comprehensive guide to this dynamic relationship. This richly illustrated volume investigates how religious beliefs, practices, and institutions have shaped artistic expression, and conversely, how the arts have influenced religious thought and experience.

The Handbook is divided into eight parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the relationship between religion and the arts:

Theories and Methods: This section provides an overview of the various theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of religion and the arts.
Historical Perspectives: This section examines the historical development of the relationship between religion and the arts, from the ancient world to the present day.
Religious Traditions: This section explores the relationship between religion and the arts in a variety of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
Art Forms: This section examines the relationship between religion and the arts in a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, theater, and film.
Religious Experience: This section explores the role of the arts in religious experience, including the use of art to create sacred spaces, evoke religious emotions, and facilitate spiritual transformation.
Social and Cultural Contexts: This section examines the social and cultural contexts in which religion and the arts interact, including the role of art in shaping religious identity, community formation, and social change.
Contemporary Issues: This section explores contemporary issues in the relationship between religion and the arts, including the use of art to address social and political issues, the role of art in interfaith dialogue, and the impact of new technologies on religious art.
Future Directions: This section looks to the future of the study of religion and the arts, and identifies new areas for research and exploration.

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts is a valuable resource for scholars and students of religion, art history, and cultural studies. It is also a fascinating read for anyone interested in the relationship between these two powerful human endeavors.

Part I: Theories and Methods

: Religion and the Arts
2. Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion and the Arts
3. Methodological Approaches to the Study of Religion and the Arts

Part II: Historical Perspectives

4. The Ancient World
5. The Middle Ages
6. The Renaissance and Reformation
7. The Enlightenment and Romanticism
8. The Modern World

Part III: Religious Traditions

9. Christianity
10. Islam
11. Judaism
12. Hinduism
13. Buddhism
14. Sikhism

Part IV: Art Forms

15. Painting
16. Sculpture
17. Architecture
18. Music
19. Dance
20. Theater
21. Film

Part V: Religious Experience

22. The Role of the Arts in Religious Experience
23. Art and Ritual
24. Art and Meditation
25. Art and Spirituality

Part VI: Social and Cultural Contexts

26. The Social and Cultural Contexts of Religion and the Arts
27. Art and Religious Identity
28. Art and Community Formation
29. Art and Social Change

Part VII: Contemporary Issues

30. Art and Social and Political Issues
31. Art and Interfaith Dialogue
32. Art and New Technologies

Part VIII: Future Directions

33. Future Directions for the Study of Religion and the Arts

Reviews

"The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts is a monumental achievement. It is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to this dynamic field of study. This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the relationship between religion and the arts." —Jonathan Z. Smith, University of Chicago

"This Handbook is a gold mine of information and insight. It is a must-have resource for scholars and students of religion, art history, and cultural studies." —David Morgan, University of California, Berkeley

"The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts is a tour de force. It is a brilliant synthesis of the latest scholarship on this fascinating topic. This volume is sure to be a standard reference work for years to come." —Robert Orsi, Harvard University

About the Editors

Richard A. Etlin is Professor of Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the history of art and religion, including The Architecture of Power: The Palace of Charles V in Granada (Yale University Press, 2014) and Sacred Spaces: The Architecture of Belief (Yale University Press, 2009).

Stephen J. Nichols is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the history of Christianity, including The Reformation: A History (Harvard University Press, 2018) and The Bible in the American Experience (Yale University Press, 2014).

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts (Oxford Handbooks)

by Marie Jenkins Schwartz

4.7 out of 5