Back in 1999, I had the chance to study overseas in Athens, Greece. Being a Bible major and a lover of art this was the thrill of a lifetime. I would get to walk where the Apostle Paul walked and I would lay my eyes on some of the most beautiful works of art in the Western world. I was stoked. That is until I got a lecture from one of my professors about the dangers of ancient art.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was studying a beautiful stone sculpture of Poisideon/Zues when my professor walked up next to me. I was lost in the lines and the contures of the statue when I heard the professor give off a little sigh. I felt like sighing too. How could a human being create such a thing? How many hours or days or weeks did it take to create such beauty? I was about to ask the prof what he thought when he spoke. In a disapproving southern drawl he stated, “Nothing but pornography.”
What? I hadn’t even noticed the nudity. I wasn’t even aware of it but I sure was then. I turned to him and commented how the statue just needed a good set of Levi’s. “Yeah, slap a pair of blue jeans on him and it’ll be ok, ” I said. I walked out of that museum with a myriad of emotions: anger, saddness, guilt, frustration. The statue was not in any sexual pose or provocative stance but I couldn’t get over his response. I wanted to throw up but I couldn’t pin point the reason. From that point on I felt almost guilty for looking at any statue that wasn’t completly covered. This prof took something of beauty and made it and a thousand other pieces vulgar in the blink of a eye. During our travels we did see some art work that was created specifically for sexual response. Believe me, there is a huge difference between that “art” and the sculptures I was admiring that day. The overtly sexual images made me blush whereas a piece like the Venus DeMillo reminded me of how beautiful the human form can be and how talented and creative and awesome our God is!
Throughout the Christian community the debate over art and pornography rages on. There is quite a stir being caused by the latest issue of Leadership Journal. The latest issue “deals with ministry amid a sexually charged culture” but it isn’t the articles that are causing the flap. It is the cover.
The cover photo is a detail from the famous statue of Pallas-Athena that stands in front of the Parlament building in Vienna. Athena was the war goddess of ancient Greece, but also worshiped as the goddess of wisdom. The Viennese statue was erected as a tribute not only to Athena but also the four rivers that were once a part of the Austrian Empire: the Danube, Elbe, Po, and Vistula.
As you can see from the photo, the statue is only partial covered. Many who recieved the issue have written in and taken the journal to task for their “irresponsible” decision to run this cover.
I can understand why some people might be bent out of shape but when I saw the cover I wasn’t immediately shamed by the statue. The photo matches the design style of nearly every other cover that I have seen from Leadership. The editorial team explained that the use of the photo was trying to communicate a number of things including:
1. Christian leadership has always been practiced amid sexually charged cultures.
2. Interest in sex is common ground between Christians and non-Christians.
3. The gospel has important things to say about sex, but we need help articulating them in a way the culture can appreciate.
You can follow the conversation if you would like at Leadership’s blog, Out of Ur. There are already some great responses. Feel free to add your own.
As for the discussion here: What do you think about it all?
Let me know. I am interested in how you feel on the subject.