Lesson 4 - Creativity in History

Question 1

What are the differences between a Christian and pagan approach to literature?

Answer 1

1. ) Christian Literature - main goal is to imitate the creativity of God, not create our own thing. The primary virtue of the Christian in life in general and art in particular, consists in fulfilling one’s destiny as a creature – that is reflectively. The author should never conceive of himself as brining existence to beauty or wisdom, which did not exist before, but simply and solely trying to embody in terms of his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty and Wisdom.
2. ) Pagan Literature - main goal is to be original.

There’s no unique way to boil an egg, so also there isn’t a Christian distinctive in writing. All writing should have the same characteristics to determine if its good.

Question 2

What are the goals and virtues of literature and art?

Answer 2

1. ) Ultimate goal of literature/art is to be enjoyed. Worst sin is to be bored.
2. ) Writing must be interesting and have a permanent positive impact on the reader/viewer.
3. ) Should be good based on their quality, not on whether it was Christian or not.
4. ) Should be imitation, not creativity.

Question 3

How does Lewis differentiate between history and historicism?

Answer 3

Historicism = post-Christian view of history.

• • The belief that history can discover the events of all time and discover a metaphysical view of history that transcends time and space.
• • Simply by looking at the facts of history you can determine the meaning of history
• • Ex. Marxism = everything in history has been a struggle for survival, therefore everything is economic.

History: history is different than science because history is linear, unique, and unrepeatable.

• • As Christians we avoid historicism by showing that the Christian faith provides us with the primary interpretive principle, not history itself.
    a. ) We can learn a lot from history (cause/effect)
    b. ) At certain points culture thrived: what contributed?
    c. ) At certain points culture fell: what contributed?
    d. ) To move beyond these obvious conclusions is to overstate our reach as historians.

Question 4

How does Lewis employ literature, art, and history apologetically?

Answer 4

The main way he does this is through his general principle: Christians shouldn’t just write about christianity, but do things that the world enjoys literature, art, and history from a Christian worldview and perspective.

History -
– The Christian faith provides us the primary interpretive principle, not history itself.

Literature
– a good apologetic of writing must possess the qualities of any “good” piece of literature. It should be very interesting (how you say something is just as important as what you say) and have a positive effect upon the reader (wise, happy, etc.)

Art

• • Christian art/literature needs to be focused on reflection/imitation rather than creativity or originality.
• • Author should never conceive himself as bringing into existence beauty or wisdom, which did not exist before, but simply and solely as trying to embody in terms of his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty and Wisdom.