Perhaps one of the most annoying aspects of conservative theology for me is its soteriology, in particular its views of conversion and witnessing. In total I find conservative soteriology to be short sighted and attenuated at best, dualistic and apolitical at worst. in this context witnessing amounts to an us verses them mentality, an impartation of knowledge to the ignorant and stubborn, as conversion amounts to a momentary, decisive, “accurate” assent to a certain set of propositions for salvation in the afterlife. Hence when someone asked me if my new public art project was a form of witnessing, I cringed and resolutely responded:
Witnessing? In the sense that any artistic expression is a witness to some way of life or ideology, sure. but not in the conservative sense.
In short, the goal my art is to “do” artistic theology. It is to dialogue and exchange thought. It is to edify, build and question. It is directed at no one in particular, believer or non-believer, and is constructed under the premise that the need for conversion is ubiquitous and perennial for both. Though the content of my art is theological it is not meant to be reduced to the function of a religious tract or sales pitch. I hope it is not perceived that way.
1 comments:
do you not know brother that as a christian you are a pimp for the gospel and your creations are but hos on loan from god?
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