Between Art and Faith: Bishop Erik Varden on the Ugliness and Beauty of Christianity

📺 Original episode:    • Wisdom of the Desert: contemplation, art a...  

🇬🇧    • Interviews in English  

In this conversation with Erik Varden, Cistercian monk and Bishop of Trondheim (Norway), we explore why Christianity sometimes appears "ugly" to outsiders despite its rich artistic tradition. Bishop Varden, drawing from his knowledge of the monastic tradition and the world of art, examines how Christian imagery evolved from early emphasis on light and the Incarnation to later focus on the Crucifixion. Beyond the superficial aesthetics of death and relics lies Christianity's representation of a divine and transcendent light. The conversation reveals how both artistic creation and monastic contemplation serve as vehicles for expressing humanity's deepest longings, despite their seemingly contradictory approaches to structure, spontaneity, and engagement with beauty.

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La Encrucijada is a podcast that explores the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science and religion, in search for the eternal and controverted question about ultimate meaning. Available in all main podcast platforms.

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#art #monasticism #beauty #christianity