ATSS: Kärt Lazić, “Arts and the ‘Present Truth’”
27 September 2023 |
In discussions about theology and spiritual lives, the aesthetic hardly ever gets the spotlight. When it does, it is often a battle of preferences, not an exchange of informed or “sensed-through” comments on the deeper makeup of the concept and related fields. Things like beauty and arts exist, an artifact may leave an impression on us, but does it matter? In the seeming urgency of other concerns in our denomination, the aesthetic has been set aside as a neat but irrelevant bonus of human existence, only to sometimes be picked up in decisions about the most “appetizing” packaging of our message.
And yet, we are a movement so fond of the concept of the “present truth”: the idea of a God who is alive and extends Themselves to engage with Their creation beyond the stories captured in the Scriptures; a God who is universal and personal, eternal and contextual, unchanging and always relevant. I believe the aesthetic to be a divinely instituted dimension of (human?) existence. As such, it deserves attention as an avenue to a deeper understanding of ourselves, of God, and of others. Let us take a look at the potential of engaging with arts more intentionally in our spiritual and religious lives.
Teacher:
Kärt Lazić is a reader by education and a communicator by passion. She gets genuinely excited about exploring challenging questions from different angles and figuring out ways to express the discoveries in a meaningful way – in classroom, church pews and “real life.” Her journey has taken her from Estonia to Newbold, where she has had the joy of teaching different subjects related to meaning—and sense-making. At church, she loves being a part of the team creating the spaces that facilitate the encounter between the human and the divine. The recent years have made her slow down to face her toughest audience yet – two toddlers that seem to have inherited her stubbornness and energy.
Moderator:
How to join:
One-click link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86037044754
PASSCODE: ROMANS (all caps)
ATSS starting time depends on where you are. If you’re on the west coast of the United States, it’ll be 10:30 AM. On the east coast, 1:30 PM. Times in Europe, Africa and elsewhere will vary with local time changes. Please double-check the correct time where you live.
The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum. We discuss and ask questions politely. We don’t accuse, get angry, put people down, or judge the state of their salvation.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand—under the “reactions” button.
- Please use your name when you sign in! Not your phone number, not your initials. This will help us differentiate you from unwelcome guests who want to disrupt us. You can set your name after signing on by clicking on the 3 dots next to your picture, which drops down a menu.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
YouTube channel:
You can see all of our previous ATSS recordings here.
Coming up:
- Mark Carr
- Tom deBruin
- Pilira Zapita (Newbold)
- Olive Hemmings (WAU)
