RT Article
T1 Glory and beauty in the world and in God: a critique of Hans Urs von Balthasar
JF International journal for the study of the Christian church
VO 18
IS 2/3
SP 173
OP 186
A1 Brown, David 1948-
LA English
YR 2018
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1663129592
AB After briefly noting Geoffrey Rowell's interest in both themes, this article proceeds to examine Balthasar's equation of beauty and glory, beginning first with glory and beauty as found in the created order. Here the contention is that whereas notions of beauty spring ultimately from a Greek emphasis on proportion and balance, the Hebrew idea of glory is concerned with what overwhelms in its majesty and splendour, and is therefore more naturally equated with the eighteenth-century notion of sublimity. In addition, it is argued that, particularly in a modern context, it should not be presupposed that the arts are necessarily concerned with the creation of beauty. The second half of the article then turns to consider God in act and in internal life. With respect to the former, a critique is offered of the modern practice of describing the crucifixion as in itself beautiful. Finally, the author suggests that Balthasar's attempt to revive accounts of God as beautiful disguises major differences from the earlier tradition where simplicity rather than a rich complexity was taken as the defining criterion for such beauty.
K1 Art
K1 Hans Urs Von Balthasar
K1 Aesthetics
K1 Beauty
K1 Crucifixion
K1 Glory
K1 Music
K1 Simplicity
DO 10.1080/1474225X.2018.1481719