Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith (E-Journal)
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When Creativity Meets Theology: I-To Loh and the Invention of the Yellow Spiritual
No full textThis essay explores how the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and its church musicking intersect with theology and culture. The focus is on Rev. Dr. I-To Loh's Yellow Spirituals–a term coined by Loh–refers to a genre of church music that blends Taiwanese folk elements with Christian hymnody. These infuse Taiwanese cultural narratives with Christian spirituality, showcasing a unique genre of church music. An analysis of one such contextual hymn, “Watch the Bush of Thorns,” reveals how Loh effectively marries elements of Taiwanese culture with Christian spirituality to construct the unique contribution of Yellow Spirituals to church music and the broader cultural identity of the Taiwanese people. This analysis features Loh's innovative adaptations in spiritual composition, thereby illuminating his significant role in embodying the collective ethos and faith of the Taiwanese PCT community. This inquiry parallels broader discussions of how music enhances cultural and spiritual life. It accentuates the dynamism found in music when uniting the themes of faith, creativity, and identity through performance
Tell Me a Story (Part 1): Characteristics of the Art of Narrative
No full textDrawing from fields as diverse as philosophy, management, psychology, counseling, communications, education, the arts, and biblical studies, this article presents ideas about the nature of stories. The article lists twenty-one characteristics of stories, organized in eight categories: being human, attracting notice, connecting people, resonating with reality, shaping thinking and memory, engaging the senses, simplifying communication, and envisioning the future. Each section includes examples of how these characteristics come into play. Carefully thinking about the nature of stories equips people to use them in a wide array of contexts to communicate powerfully.
Keywords: story, stories, narrative, communication, verbal art, verbal artform, oral tradition, narrative transportation
All images were created by the author
Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Worship Arts, by W. David O. Taylor
No full textNarrative Structure in West African Dramatic Films: Localization and Globalization
No full textAn analysis of narrative in West African dramatic films and consideration of the implications for Biblical film creators. To what degree are localized narrative styles necessary and useful in the communication of Biblical content through film
Recapturing an Enchanted World: Ritual and Sacrament in the Free Church Tradition, by John D. Rempel
No full textDesigning Memory: The Architecture of Commemoration in Europe, 1914 to the Present, by Sabina Tanović
No full textThe Legend of the Yurupary: Bridge for an Amazonian Theology?
No full textIn his travels through the Amazon during 1850, the renowned English naturalist Russell Wallace, coauthor with Charles Darwin of the theory of evolution, was the first to describe the myth of the Yurupary: “One of their most singular superstitions is about the musical instruments they use at their festivals, which they call the Jurupari music. These consist of eight or sometimes twelve pipes, or trumpets, made of bamboos or palm-stems hollowed out, some with trumpet-shaped mouths of bark and with mouth-holes of clay and leaf. Each pair of instruments gives a distinct note, and they produce a rather agreeable concert, something resembling clarinets and bassoons” (Wallace 1890). The myth of Yuruparí can motivate future generations to work in the company of both locals and foreigners for the reconstruction of the various Amazonian cultures and the worship of God from their own culture, participants in the architecture and understanding of a local theology and the use of local arts
The Arts in Intercultural Discipleship
No full textThe ethnodoxology movement inspires us to consider how the arts can transform the Sunday worship experience. What about the other six days of the week though? What about the discipleship issues that need to be addressed Monday through Saturday? If these important issues do not get addressed, then people can easily get stuck in their spiritual growth. This article discusses how the arts are particularly suited for spiritual formation in various cultures by exploring the role of symbols, stories, dance, proverbs, music, and stories for intercultural discipleship. Examples are drawn from the Lakota Sicangu Native American culture as well as from the Builsa culture in Ghana, West Africa
Developing a Christian Philosophy of Music, by Dick Grout
No full textIn 2023, Professor Dick Grout made public his locally published textbook, Developing a Christian Philosophy of Music. Grout originally wrote this to be a resource for classes that he and others were teaching in Upstate NY, and eventually published it in order to make it accessible to more people nationwide. In this book, he covers a wide range of topics involved with Christian music, from Copyright Law, to the debate regarding using older songs vs new songs, even down to the question, “what makes Christian music ‘Christian?’” Is it the lyrics, the composer, the performer, or something else? This book provides a new look at and fresh insight into topics that might be familiar to those in the realms of worship, music, culture, and their intersection
Tell Me a Story (Part 2): The Power of Stories for Diffusing Innovations
No full textStories are powerful tools for change. Providing practical illustrations of contexts where stories contribute to the process of bringing about change, this article explains the significant roles stories play in the innovation-decision process, the process through which people pass from finding out about an innovation to deciding whether or not to adopt it. Stories can raise awareness about the existence of an innovation. They can also present knowledge about the underlying notions of an innovation or tell positive experiences of peers who have adopted it. Additionally, stories give people a chance to try out an innovation vicariously and envision alternative, appealing futures. Stories functioning in these ways are particularly useful during the early stages of the innovation-decision process. In later stages, other kinds of stories are useful: ones that describe the parts of an innovation or display details about a new technology; ones that position the innovation in the local context and demonstrate how it relates to existing structures; and stories featuring opinion leaders using the innovation. Recognizing the benefits and challenges of using stories equips people to diffuse new ideas more smoothly, including across cultures. By carefully considering the power of stories, anticipating occasions for their use, and learning their local artforms, people can better use stories to support the spread of helpful innovations.
Keywords: story, stories, narrative, diffusion of innovations, change, narrative persuasion, narrative transportation, verbal art, verbal artforms
Acknowledgements: I am grateful to my colleague Heidi Cobbey who read multiple early drafts and encouraged me when I got stuck. I would also like to thank Katie Frost and Dennis Malone for their input and insight, which sharpened my thinking and strengthened this article