This book is made up of a collection of texts unavailable in one volume until now, including six previously untranslated essays, from a major theologian of the twentieth century. Rahner's numerous writings focused on the revelation of God as mystery in the world and on the human being who has an essential openness towards the transcendent. His articles reveal an empathy and a depth of insight into the relationship between theology, faith and the arts which are remarkable and may take the reader by surprise. More recently, Rahner's contribution to the growing field of theology and the arts has been recognised by leading theologians on this subject. He asserts that theology must integrate the verbal and non-verbal arts as they are authentic means of human self-expression, of religious experience, and of God's self-communication; and therefore they are essential sources of theology. Rahner argues that theology, understood as a person's 'reflexive self-expression' about him- or herself 'in the light of divine revelation', cannot be regarded as complete until 'the arts become an intrinsic moment of theology itself'.

This book is made up of a collection of texts unavailable in one volume until now, including six previously untranslated essays, from a major theologian of the twentieth century. Rahner's numerous writings focused on the revelation of God as mystery in the world and on the human being who has an essential openness towards the transcendent. His articles reveal an empathy and a depth of insight into the relationship between theology, faith and the arts which are remarkable and may take the reader by surprise. More recently, Rahner's contribution to the growing field of theology and the arts has been recognised by leading theologians on this subject. He asserts that theology must integrate the verbal and non-verbal arts as they are authentic means of human self-expression, of religious experience, and of God's self-communication; and therefore they are essential sources of theology. Rahner argues that theology, understood as a person's 'reflexive self-expression' about him- or herself 'in the light of divine revelation', cannot be regarded as complete until 'the arts become an intrinsic moment of theology itself'.

Foreword -- Introduction: Karl Rahner, Theology and the Arts -- Part 1 Prelude - Faith, Culture, Theology, and the Senses -- 1. Faith and Culture -- 2. On the Theology of Books -- 3. God's Word and Human Books -- 4. The Theology of the Symbol -- 5. Seeing and Hearing Part 2 On Literature -- 6. Priest and Poet -- 7. Poetry and the Christian -- 8. On the Task of the Writer in Relation to Christian Living -- 9. On the Greatness and the Plight of the Christian Writer -- Part 3 On Visual Art and Architecture -- 10. Theology and the Arts -- 11. Art against the Horizon of Theology and Piety -- 12. The Theology of the Religious Meaning of Images -- 13. Church Building: On Modern Church Architecture Part 4 On Music -- 14. Word and Music in Church -- 15. What Do the Beatles sing? -- 16. An Ordinary Song Postlude -- 17. Prayer for Creative Thinkers -- Bibliography -- Index.

A world-renowned scholar and musician helps Christians respond with theological discernment to music.

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