Illustration with Purpose Creativity with Power
Thinking Like an Artist
Cindy Foley explains “Thinking Like an Artist” in her TED Talk.
In addition to connecting us to the Universal Church, thinking about Art can inform how we think about our immediate experiences.
Educator Cindy Foley has proposed three education goals that will help kids think like an artist. Rather than just teaching artmaking techniques, teaching these skills will help students their whole lives whether they become professional artists or not.
Artists are comfortable with Ambiguity
Artists creatively generate new Ideas
Artists engage in cross-disciplinary Research
As you will see, Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) develop all three. Comfort with Ambiguity as we look at a picture without any context or answers; Idea Generation as we articulate our ideas with words unique to ourselves; and Cross-Disciplinary Research as we connect the art we are viewing to our own outside knowledge.
Thinking Like A Theologian
Perhaps even more than Artists, these skills are essential to Theologians. A theologian is someone who thinks about a Faith to better define its truths. Ancient Church Fathers like St. Athanasius referred to the authors of the New Testament as “the Theologians.” Today we would consider the Church Fathers theologians along with reformers like Martin Luther or John Calvin and more modern names like Thomas Merton or C.S. Lewis.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor turned spy, specifically wanted to be a theologian as a child. In mainstream American Christianity at least, theology is something you study; few would try to be theologians. More common is the pastor or ministry leader who “takes an interest in theology.”
VTS is worth incorporating into the Sunday School Classroom because it teaches students to Think Like Theologians.
St. John the Theologian - Orthodox Icon
A sample of CS Lewis’ writing and thinking as a lay-theologian.
C.S. Lewis is celebrated by Christians across the wide array of denominations and traditions for his theological work. Yet, for all his insights and popularity, Lewis identified himself as a “lay-theologian,” his primary calling was that of a Professor of Medieval Studies. This makes his work all the more inspiring, his insights came not from a formal “Theological Training” but from his habit of Thinking like a Theologian.
Theologians too must…
Be comfortable with Ambiguity
Creatively generate new Ideas
Engage in cross-disciplinary Research
Theologians must be Comfortable with Ambiguity because they are the ones who ponder apparent contradictions in the Bible. While some might reject Christianity because it claims a good God allows evil, a theologian ponders answers to these questions even in the face of strong uncertainty.
Theologians must Formulate Ideas that are unique to them. Indeed, without this step they are not theologians but mere scholars. True doctrine is developed by articulating anew what must be true given what we already know. This is as true of Tradition heavy Catholic Fathers as it is of “Sola Scriptura” Reformers. Formulated doctrine requires a theologian to express evident truth in their own words.
Lastly, theologians must explore disciplines beyond the field of Theology. Indeed, Cross-Disciplinary Study is what truly fuels theology, as we discover truth about the world and contemplate how our understanding of God informs it. Theologians use science, sociology, history, and mythology to better explain and understand spiritual Truth.