Dissertation Proposal

        Worship in Christianity has been evolving from the beginning of the church. With primary roots in the temple and synagogue traditions of Israel and influences from Greek/Roman culture, worship of God in the Christian tradition has progressed through the centuries and now employs a never ending variety of forms.  Every culture where the Christian church exists has made choices concerning their worship of God based on their values and priorities.  An area of concern for worship is the use of images and the overall visual experience of the Christian in worship.  Especially in the modern cultural west, we have witnessed the advent of the use of media and technology in worship.  This raises questions: Does the Christian Church have a visual theology, a theology of image and what is the proper use of images in Christian worship?

            In the modern cultural west we have moved into an era where images abound and where the people have become visual learners.  One could argue the internet is brining about a modern renaissance comparing it to the invention of the Guttenberg printing press.  With a few keystrokes information is quickly shared globally via text, images, video and sound. This is a dramatic change from centuries where text alone was the main avenue of education and information. This shift in learning and the information age in which we are living necessitates the church to respond and assimilate the appropriate use of media, technology and images, to fulfill its mission in the world.  This visual dynamic in worship has multiple considerations, the architecture and space contribute significantly to worship. Additionally furnishings, color, and all the implements utilized in worship become part of the visual palette.  Specifically in the arena of worship we need to understand the place and role of art.  Paintings, graphics, stained glass, communicate values, ideas and even theological propositions to the worshipping congregation.

            There are three primary areas informing us as to the use of images in worship: Scripture; History; Christian Spirituality.  By examining these sources we are able to extrapolate a “theology of image” which can serve as a guide to the use of images in worship. If we are to be faithful to the “faith once received” then we must determine a theology of image not independent of these foundations but rather connected and integrated to them.  We will discover that the church throughout history has struggled with these issues wanting to be doctrinally correct and function within the bounds of scripture with a practice of the Christian faith which honors God.  There have been extremes where people have erred and gone to far on both ends of the spectrum: allowing too much freedom in the use of images, with the images themselves being the object of worship; the other side prohibiting and restricting the use of images fearful they would become idols.  By examining this information a balance is hoped for where we gain an understanding of how graphics, art, color, texture, all we can see, can enhance, strengthen, and engage the modern follower of Jesus Christ in worship helping them to grasp a deeper understanding of who God is and gain a deeper revelation of the divine.