The very foundation of the Christian fate is the life of Jesus Christ. This is the basic principle by which the majority of all Christian practices and Christian life are based upon. Nevertheless, it is interesting to understand how the leading Christian religions instill this basic principle to billions of members. Upon careful analysis of the religious practices of the Christian faith it became clear that such esthetics were merged with art so that Christians would experience and relate to the abstract teachings of the Christian churches.
Perhaps, one of the most abstract or unique teachings of the Christian church is the concept of man’s redemption through the shedding of Christ’s blood or the death and resurrection of his body. Almost all Christian organization became popular due to this concept or teaching. It is the relevance of Christ’s body that became the subject of diverse Christian art works. In order to make this concept memorable to members of the Christians, artists usually focus on the brutality and violence that Jesus Christ has suffered on the cross.
Upon seeing such violence and brutality reflected upon the body of Christ, members begin to develop their sympathy and would eventually become more aware of the purpose of the redemption through Christ’s atonement principle. Consider the art work of John Valentine Haidt (1758) entitled, “Lamentation Over the Body of Christ.” In this painting, Christ body is shown prostrated in the center of the canvas with his family mourning for his death. It should be noted that Christians are family oriented which makes the scene even more dramatic. It is due to the dramatic component of the art work that allows it to easily induce feelings of sympathy among Christians.
Another interesting point about the Christian faith and its use of esthetic expressions centered in Christ’s body are its artful ceremonies. There are diverse artful ceremonies that allow the worship or Sabbath services among Christian churches to provide distinct experiences to the 5-senses of the human body. Such ceremonies allow Christians to relate the churches’ teachings to what they experience using the 5-senses.
Such ceremonies include the use of bread and wine or what the Roman Catholic call the eucarist. It should be noted that in the eucarist, the bread and wine symbolizes the body and blood of Jesus Christ, respectively. This particular ceremony aims to influence the sense of taste, which is why it is often referred to as the esthetics of food (“Christian Esthetics: Salvation and the Senses”). Another ceremony that makes the Christian organization popular is the use of bids in prayer. These bids affect the kinesthetic experience of members. Last example would be the use of incense, which affects the olfactory senses. Such sensations are easier to remember than what can be read in Christian sacred books such as the holy bible, and it is these sensations that help establish the connection between Christian teachings, principles and values to the lives of Christian members.
In conclusion, the Christian faith has ingeniously used art in the esthetic expressions centered on Christ’s body in order to help Christians relate to the teachings of the churches. These art forms try to influence the five senses of the human body so as to relate sensory experiences to Christian doctrines. It can also be concluded that these esthetic expressions are ways through which Christians could distinguish themselves among other religious affiliations.
Works Cited
“Christian Esthetics: Salvation and the Senses.” Lecture Notes. N.d.
Haidt, John Valentine. “Lamentation Over the Body of Christ.” 1758. Painting.
