The Role of Creativity in Christian Life Short Course Begins!
Join us as we explore the nature of human creativity and the questions that surround it. What does it mean to create? What is beauty, and why does it matter? How can we think Christianly about art, in all its various forms? How is community necessary to creativity and benefited by it? Loosely inspired by author and singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson’s book Adorning the Dark, we will dive into various short readings, both popular and scholarly, by a wide range of authors and artists grappling with why creativity matters and how to nurture it in ourselves.
A few of the readings included will be the short story Leaf by Niggle, by JRR Tolkien, as well as selections by artist Makoto Fujimura, poet Malcolm Guite, author Madeleine L’Engle, and theologians Abraham Kuyper and Josef Pieper.
This is a discussion-based course; all of the readings required for discussion will be provided, and all “homework” reading is encouraged but optional! Free Adorning the Dark book copy provided to those participating for the duration of the course.
Meeting dates will be 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, and 4/28
The course is currently open to new participants. If you are interested in joining, Register Here!
More about our Course Facilitator:
Connie Bayliss joined VT’s Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity in 2023. Growing up in the Roanoke area, she attended Washington and Lee University, earning a BA in English and Medieval & Renaissance Studies. She completed an MA in English Literature through a program with Middlebury College while teaching, spending most of her time with a Medieval Humanities high school class at a classical Christian School in Savannah, GA. Her love of the Lord and his communication with us through literature influenced her classes every day, and she loves to examine works by authors like C.S. Lewis, which help us understand God better through story. Connie has been involved with the BSC since joining VT, and is passionate about its work in promoting academic dialogue and the pursuit of truth.
This project was made possible through the support of an award from the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of either the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation or the John Templeton Foundation.
