James M Brandon

Christian approaches to the fine arts have varied greatly over the years, and the modern Protestant educator is forced to confront a long history of controversy, as well as questions about the proper relationship between Christianity and the fine arts. As the fine arts are an established part of many existing Christian K-12 and college curriculums, the questions associated with the fine arts are not an academic question for most educators, but instead represent fundamental issues that must be addressed in daily instruction. This chapter first seeks to place the relationship between Christianity and the fine arts in historical context, through an examination of the troubled and complex history of the fine arts and Protestant Christianity, with an emphasis on contemporary issues. The next section, through summary of and commentary on previous works, provides an overview of the parameters of a Christian aesthetics that can help educators to make informed decisions regarding the use of the fine arts in their curriculums. This section highlights ways in which aesthetic issues are an everyday part of Church and educational life. In the final section, various practical approaches to teaching the fine arts as part of a broader Protestant Christian educational curriculum are explored through questions and commentary. Specifically, this area looks at vocational and curricular questions concerning arts education and asks questions regarding day-to-day instruction. The chapter calls for a greater and more informed use of the fine arts in Christian education.