The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts

by Leland Ryken

Established in 1968, the Wheaton Literary Series provides insightful books for the thoughtful reader, inspiring imagination, and reflection. These beautifully produced volumes feature prose and poetry of high literary, academic, and artistic merit, written by and about Christian artists of significant stature.

Genres: Art, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Philosophy, Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2000

About the author

Dr. Ryken has served on the faculty of Wheaton College since 1968. He has published over thirty books and more than one hundred articles and essays, devoting much of his scholarship to Bible translations and the study of the Bible as literature. He served as Literary Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible and in 2003 received the distinguished Gutenberg Award for his contributions to education, writing, and the understanding of the Bible.

He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying Leland Ryken's books as of late. This is another winner.
The Liberated Imagination is a wonderful book on the necessity of the arts to a persons self-education. He does a wonderful job walking the line between why a Christian ought to pursue the arts and how to cultivate a discerning attitude towards diving into the arts that don't adhere to a christian worldview.
The first part of the book lays a biblical foundation for the importance of the arts and how they develop to a moral character foundation.
The second part discusses the correlation between imagination, truth and art.
The third part I found the most helpful when Ryken talks about modern art, the turn art took since the enlightenment and why it's important to dive into art that our own culture produces even though it isn't "Christian" art. We do this so we can keep abreast of cultural trends so we can understand the heart of modern man. If you want to understand more deeply the soul of an era the best way is to read the literature of that era. It alone speaks to the heart of man.
The key obviously is how to balance the heart and the head simultaneously so as not to be drawn into depravity on one end and total asceticism on the other.
His book that that he edited "The Christian Imagination" and "How to Read the Bible as Literature: And Get More Out of It" are also well worth a read.
A side note: He quotes T.S. Eliot and the French critique Jaques Barzun quite often and their essays and books on art and culture and abuses thereof are enlightening as well.

[Caly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book. Wonderful thoughts on what the arts mean for the Christian artist and viewer. After hearing the secular position on the arts it’s refreshing to hear a Biblical view. There were a few points I think Ryken could have done a better job making and one or two things I disagreed with which is why I’m giving this 4/5 stars instead of 5/5. But overall, a fantastic book!

[Joe Hox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I taught art in a Christian school for 12 years without reading this book! A must-read for Christians with a desire to create or to enjoy the arts. It's also for Christians who want to understand how the arts fit into a Christian worldview. Using Scripture as a guide, Ryken presents a Christian position toward the arts that is neither idolatry of art at one extreme or utilitarian disregard for art at the other. I also appreciate Ryken's prescribed posture toward art coming from competing ideologies. His prescription is for engagement, tempered both with an understanding of common grace and a healthy understanding of the human inclination toward sin.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most helpful books I have read. It really helped me think through a lot of things that I hadn't thought about deeply before. I didn't agree with everything but learned a lot and grew a lot in my understanding of a Christian view of the arts. The emphasis is on literature since that is his area but it also discusses music and the visual arts. I would highly recommend to anyone.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was dense but very helpful in helping me understand literary criticism from a Christian perspective. The author writes with a clear, avuncular voice. It also encouraged me in my own writing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a freeing book - thoroughly enjoyable.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years back, I went on a Leland Ryken kick and bought all of his books that Thriftbooks had available for reasonable prices. I've read one or two since then, but they've mostly just been waiting on the shelves. But this month's book club meeting theme is Imagination, so I grabbed The Liberated Imagination to see what it had to say on the topic.

I always love what Ryken has to say, but he can be a little dry sometimes. I think he does a better job of being engaging in this book than in some of his others. I genuinely enjoyed reading his discussion of art and culture and how Christians should approach and evaluate literature, music, and visual art. It's a great read for anyone who loves the arts, who would like the love the arts, or who is skeptical of the arts. Ryken's notes and suggestions for further reading are fabulous (so many quotes from CS Lewis!) and I'll certainly be using pieces of this book in future literature classes. It's currently chock full of post it flags so I can find all the parts I found especially valuable.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't always agree with his conclusions about art (he was pretty close-minded about abstract art, for instance), but overall this is a nice addition to the exploration of theology and art.

[Jenneth Leed · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read for every Christian creative.

[Matt Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book like this, I'd point you to to Ryken's "The Christian Imagination."

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really got me thinking more self-consciously about the arts. His explanations and insights are a great starting point for a non-expert seeking to have a more developed perspective on the arts. And, if you don't like Ryken, you can always just peruse the book and read the numerous quotes from various philosophers and artists that he's peppered throughout.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a few places where the argument didn't seem to connect, but overall a very good manifesto on the value and function of the arts, with special focus on the Church. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[Tyson Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm repeatedly baffled by the fact that this book is not more widely distributed. (I blame the cover art on the Shaw printing for this abortion of justice.) Ryken gives an exemplary introduction to the topic of Christian engagement with the arts. You should read it.