Engaging Art to Teach Theology

Abstract

Visual art is an often-neglected resource in the theology classroom. This essay argues that it is essential to include visual and material resources in theological education in order to present a more robust and accurate understanding of theology as it has been not only written, but also lived. Art can be incorporated into lectures and assignments in order to complement or complicate what students find in theological texts. After outlining some of the basic principles of using art to teach theology, this essay provides one such example that could be applied to a lesson on Reformation theology. It concludes with annotated bibliographies on print and digital resources.