I am thrilled to be working on a story for response magazine again. Yesterday, I needed to clarify a question as part of an email exchange.
Basically, the question I need to reword is: why and how do social justice, art, and spirituality combine? How do these spheres seem to work so well together? I ask this from a personal passion — I am an amateur artist; I tend to think of my craft or my art work as something that I do for me and me alone. It is a meditative practice. But perhaps the desire to make art is a God-given gift (spiritual) and can be used to make the world a better place (social justice).
This is my hypothesis — when we are creative and creating, we are God-like. And as God is the creator, he/she enjoys seeing us engage as creators of art and justice too. Therefore, we are rewarded with good vibes, a better world, beautiful art — because God likes us to be doing God’s work on earth….
– mbcoudal
What do you make of the confluence of art, social justice, and faith? How do these areas work together? Why do we feel so happy and content when we are creative?
My final article will come out in the May 2020 issue. Until then, I asked similar questions of theologian Glory Dharmaraj in Two Way Mission, also for response magazine.
The Writing Life 