God created the world out of nothing save the desire to communicate himself to us in love. In this talk by VT English Professor Tom Gardner, we will look at the way contemporary poets, novelists, and filmmakers explore theological ideas from the inside, unfolding, for example, the lived-out implications of such theological ideas as the doctrine of creation. The arts can help open us up fully to the beauty and terror and strangeness of the world, seeing it as a theater of divine glory. We’ll look briefly at Terrence Malick’s great film The Tree of Life (2011) as an example of this.
Talk by Dr Tom Gardner is Alumni Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech, with Q&A to follow.
“Sweet Tea and Theology” is a series of lectures and discussions offered by the Bradley Study Center to explore important questions and hold meaningful, relevant conversations across differences, in light of the Christian faith. Open to the Public, with refreshments served (including sweet tea).