[ePub] All in Sync: How Music and Art Are Revitalizing American Religion by Robert Wuthnow at Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Theologian in EveryoneBy HawkeyeWhen I first saw the title "All in Sync: How Music and Art Are Revitalizing American Religion." I thought the book might be about the cultural integration of art and religion in America. In fact "all in sync" refers to a comment made by a member of a predominantly African American congregation about the feeling of gospel singing in unison: "When were all in sync. you can feel the spirit moving." Wuthnow endorses artistic. spiritual. communitarian synchronization--which is impeded by religion which occurs above the neckline. He doesnt like rational theology. religious dogma. and religious tradition. and he sees music and art as working their magic not so much by revitalizing religion as by replacing it with spirituality--which is about feeling. not thinking. Consider the entry for "God" in the books index: "God. artistic interest and closeness to; attending church and closer relationship with; feeling close to; music and closeness to; sermons and feeling close to." Thats not the entire entry. but the emphasis on feeling is unmistakable. So the revitalization of the churches comes down to the question of their acceptance or rejection of artistically-induced spiritual growth. Here is his most relevant empirical finding: "Members of mainline Protestant and Catholic churches are less likely than people in the nation at large to hold negative views of the arts. but members of evangelical Protestant churches are more likely than people in the nation at large to hold such views. And the differences are substantial: whereas only one mainline Protestant or Catholic in nine is negative toward the arts. about one evangelical Protestant in four is negative." So. the arts are revitalizing open-minded spirituality. but the narrow-minded Evangelical patient is hopeless and must be given Last Rites. In other words. if you are interested in spiritual growth. stay away from Evangelicalism. But do his data support such a conclusion? Wuthnow does not make a convincing case that the Evangelical disdain for contemporary art is based on an inability to appreciate the spiritual potential of art. as such. Good art critics. as well as Fundamentalists. are contemptuous of a good deal of contemporary ("Euro-trash") art. In any case. his own figures indicate that 75% of Evangelicals do NOT have negative views of the arts. Many enjoy Beethoven. Bach. and Mozart. I am not defending Evangelical theology. but I do think a wiser commentator than Wuthnow would recognize that theology. as such. is not the problem. His last chapter is entitled "The Artist in Everyone." By shifting the focus from theology to art. which we are all capable of pursuing. we can achieve "faithful living in a spiritual democracy." Wonderful. But why no chapter on "The Theologian in Everyone"? Sociologist Peter Berger has (independently of his sociology) written an excellent lay theology ("Questions of Faith") which takes the form of a commentary on the Apostles Creed. He is unhappy with the professional theologians and has become his own. He encourages others to do the same. It makes sense to me. And one of the issues of central importance in my lay theology is the intrinsic relation between art and religion. Can experiential art and reflective theology get in sync? Surveys and interviews (Wuthnows main research tools) lack the power to dig much below the surface. No doubt that is why they point us spiritual folks to the mainline (liberal) churches. which. Wuthnow fails to point out. have been losing more members to Evangelical churches than vice versa--quite possibly because their liberalism does not satisfy deep needs of any kind.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Arts and gracesBy FrKurt MessickThis book by Robert Wuthnow. professor of social sciences and Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. draws upon extensive research. including interviews with more than 400 people involved in a diverse number of worship settings across the country. In this study. Wuthnow documented a strong connection between interest in the arts and interest in spiritual growth.Americans are fundamentally a religious. spiritual people. Spirituality is deeply significant to most Americans. Despite the materialism that surrounds us. the quest to know God and to experience the sacred has not diminished. according to Wuthnow. However. this quest does not always happen within the confines of the institutional church - increasingly. people are looking for other ways of making connections with God.Music and art are part of this quest. but often overlooked. save in the most formal of ways. There is an undercurrent of Protestant/Puritan mistrust of images. many kinds of artwork. and many types of music. One would think in this media-saturated culture that people would not lack for images. sounds. and words to experience. but this is part of the problem. according to Wuthnow. Although mass media make it easy for Americans to explore the arts. the results of such explorations are often disappointing. Media-fed spirituality suffers from superficiality. while momentary inspiration fails to illumine the dark night of the soul.Wuthnow explores the overall religious identity of the United States. looking at statistical studies and trends since the post-World War II period. He shows growth in different ways (more people identifying themselves as conservative and as liberal religiously. more interest in spirituality vs. historic religious institutions. etc.) but also asks questions regarding the basis of these trends. Wuthnow shows that the arts play a great deal of importance in spirituality trends. including music. television. film. theatre. museum and formal arts shows. and publishing. Wuthnow argues in this book that the vitality of Americas churches may depend significantly on the publics growing interest in artistic activities. Wuthnow admits that some may find this argument a stretch. but in his subsequent chapters. he does give interesting argument for support.Wuthnows text deals with issues in art. spirituality. imagination. liturgy and worship. problems of conflict between the arts and the churches. and the awakening of the artistic soul in every person. We live in a consumer society. and this approach is often found with regard to understanding the arts. too. Because it is easier to be consumers of art than to create it. it is all the more important to emphasise that art is a strong form of personal discipline. As Wuthnow states. it is not that Americans are averse to work (indeed. quite the opposite). but that the arts have always been relegated to that arena of life that is a hobby. a value-added-extra not actually required. save for those very few who are professional artists.Wuthnow gives advice to congregational leaders to be sensitive to the various issues in art. particularly the way in which people have become accustomed to different ways of seeing and knowing. and the values of democracy and individuality that the arts tend to support. The arts are important in ways that need to be carefully considered. and Wuthnows book is a very good way of exploring these issues.