Explore the intricate ties between storytelling and faith, particularly for actors and writers. Discover how narratives shape personal and worldviews, celebrating the complexity of morality in storytelling. Delve into the moral quandaries faced by artists and the importance of self-awareness. Examine how biblical wisdom connects with work and enhances fulfillment. Dive into the emotional landscape of acting, highlighting resilience amidst rejection and the supportive role of community.
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Bill T. Jones and O'Connor's Grace
Bill T. Jones, a secular liberal artist, was deeply moved by Flannery O'Connor's overtly Christian short story about grace and forgiveness.
Despite opposing the Christian worldview, he chose to adapt this story because of its overwhelming narrative power.
insights INSIGHT
Story Structure Basics
Stories require a disruption; life must be knocked off balance to create a compelling narrative.
Protagonists strive to restore balance while antagonists oppose them, forming the essence of any story.
insights INSIGHT
Worldviews Are Master Narratives
Humans attach meaning to life events only by framing them within a storyline involving good and bad forces.
This necessity leads every worldview to identify protagonists and antagonists to explain reality.
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The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God[1][3][4].
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].
Every Good Endeavor
Connecting Your Work to God's Work
Timothy Keller
In 'Every Good Endeavor,' Timothy Keller explores the biblical perspectives on work, addressing questions such as the purpose of work, finding meaning in a competitive workplace, and staying true to one's values while advancing in a career. The book is divided into three parts: God's plan for work, our problems with work, and the Gospel and work. Keller emphasizes that work is a gift from God and should be approached with excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion as acts of worship. He also highlights the importance of understanding work through a Christian worldview, which can provide a foundation for a thriving professional and balanced personal life.
Mystery and manners
occasional prose
Flannery O'Connor
Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose is a collection of essays by Flannery O'Connor, edited by Sally and Robert Fitzgerald. The book delves into O'Connor's views on writing, faith, and the role of the writer in society, highlighting the tension between the 'mystery' of the divine and the 'manners' of everyday human life. It offers insights into her literary philosophy and the influence of her Catholic faith on her work.
If you’re Christian, what is the rationale for being an actor? Why should Christians be actors? How should Christians who are actors or writers or choreographers or directors think about their faith and their work?
To answer that, we need to look at the power of stories, at why we connect with and are overwhelmed by strong stories.
Let’s consider 1) what a story is, 2) that we attach meaning by connecting things to a storyline, 3) that Christians can find elements of their story in almost any other story, and 4) why we need to understand our baseline cultural narratives.
This talk and Q&A was given by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 5, 2004. Series: Redeemer InterArts Fellowship.
Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
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