How Important is Holy Art Today?

Sacred Art - Beyond Words

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes. Sacred art represents pictures and images of value to those who possess it. This was particularly so in a time and era when very few people could read and write. Knowledge, as it relates to religious information, was passed down through oral traditions, and the sacred art was the picture that told the story.

Sacred art tells a story. When you look at a religious object, the intent is to see and understand the message and the story behind the item. One should never see sacred art as just some other type of decorative piece to brighten up a place of worship or a corner of the home. Like all other forms of art, sacred art speaks, and it does so loudly.

How Important is Holy Art Today?

Holy art no longer holds the same place it once did in Western society. Today, the average person can read and write, and access to information is liberal and far-reaching. Accordingly, the church no longer is the only source of religious information. With the click of a mouse or by reading a book, the average person can learn more about any religion and various religious topics.

So, what role if any does holy or sacred art plays in conveying a message in the modern world? Despite the changes, sacred art still speaks to those who will listen and the message is very loud if you are willing to listen.

For example, the sacred art can tell you a lot about the religious beliefs at the time the art was created. Different traditions place constraints on what art is allowed and how the message reaches those who need it. For example, some religions do not allow art in the likeness of any “graven image.” In contrast, statues and paintings of saints, angels, Jesus, and God himself are found widely throughout others.

In addition to different restrictions across each religion, there are changes in the details of sacred art within a religious group over time. Take the depiction of the baptism for example. During the first two centuries in every known representation of the baptism, the participants, including Jesus was nude. Renderings of the sacred ritual of baptism by artists record the nudity, which apparently offended no one at the time. However, today, such a representation would be frowned upon by both Christians and non-believers. Imagine new converts in the modern church standing before the whole congregation without clothes professing the faith while being baptized into the fold!

Even more so, the Church has been of two minds about nudity in art, starting with Adam and Eve. There is no way of getting around the nakedness when the art depicts the story of the first man and woman in the garden of Eden. Additionally, some historical evidence suggests that Jesus was crucified naked on the cross. However, any creator of sacred art or church goods must tread lightly in his or her depiction of nudity in relation to either of these two Christian stories. As society changes, the messages of the holy art will also change.

The Future of Sacred Art

Sacred art says as much about ourselves as it does about the subject. Despite changing traditions and cultures, holy art will always proclaim what we think is important. Sometimes it conforms to the norms and standards of society, even as it confronts them. Sacred art also speaks to what we want ourselves to be. It can depict ideals and spiritual truths to which the devotee aspires. One of the best reasons for acquiring sacred art is to use it as an object of devotion, or a source of inspiration. A simple picture or statuette of a Bible story or parable in one’s bedroom or on a desk can serve as a constant reminder of what is important in life.

In a world of daily distractions, we all need ways to remind ourselves that life is not primarily about what we earn, buy, consume, or own. It is about eternal values that can be expressed beautifully in sacred art.

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