God Don't Make No Junk: A Look at Making Art and the Theology of Desire
Patricia Catherine Worthingham
ERA: Education and Research Archive 2012 DOI: 10.7939/r3j38kz0g (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that historical philosophical and theological views of desire, combined with Reiss's motivational research, can be integrated with mystical experiences of oneness during art-making to develop a personal theology of desire and a deeper relationship with God. The author also proposes that judgment and inertia can debilitate one's relationship with desire, and uses Kinast and Underhill's reflective methodology to examine a desired career change. |
Abstract
This integrative study provides an historical review of humankind’s relationship with desire as regarded by philosophers and theologians of western civilization. It examines desire as reflected in the characteristics of our culture and the societies we have built since early history; then highlights which desires, according to Dr. Steven Reiss’ research into what motivates and makes life meaningful, we chose. This study’s main focus is mystical consciousness and speaks to this in a heuristic account of altered consciousness and the ‘feeling of oneness’ while making art, resulting in a deeper relationship with God and the development of my own theology of desire. Selected pieces of art created during this process are included. The concept of ‘body, mind, spirit connection’ appears as a theme throughout this study, as my source of wisdom and knowledge for making art. In the section devoted to Theological Reflection, an integrated methodology based in Kinast and Underhill’s approach to reflection and mysticism is used and frames my discussion on the desire for a career change. Questions are posed, a thorough discussion ensues, examining the notion of betrayal, the debilitating effects of judgment and inertia on my relationship with desire, how my senses, perception, and consciousness influence my experience and understanding of desire. References from psychology, quantum physics and cosmology help to further develop my theology. This study has been a journey into my heart’s desire.