Redeemed at countless cost
Book Description
In the aftermath of Britain's startling 1851 Religious Census, which revealed a troubling decline in religious participation, a profound transformation began to reshape how people experienced and understood their faith. "Redeemed at Countless Cost" explores this pivotal moment when religious expression shifted from purely text-based approaches to embrace the power of visual imagery and narrative storytelling.
Stewart A. Dippel reveals how nineteenth-century theologians, particularly those at Yale School of Divinity, pioneered a more integrated approach to scripture that moved beyond analytical fragmentation. These religious thinkers discovered fresh meaning by centering their focus on the dramatic events of Christ's passion, allowing visual and narrative elements to illuminate spiritual truths in ways that words alone could not capture.
This scholarly work traces the remarkable revival of what the author terms "iconographic religion" as it spread across American, Russian, and British cultures throughout the 1800s. Rather than viewing this period's artists and writers as primarily secular figures, Dippel presents compelling evidence for their deeply religious motivations and spiritual concerns.
For readers interested in understanding how visual arts, storytelling, and spiritual practice intersect, this book offers valuable insights into a transformative period when faith communities rediscovered the profound impact of imagery and narrative in religious experience. The work challenges conventional assumptions about nineteenth-century spirituality while illuminating pathways toward more holistic religious understanding.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 214 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Theology
- ✓ Explore Great Britain
- ✓ Explore Christianity and the arts
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Great Britain -- Church history -- 19th century
- ✓ Explore Religiöse Erfahrung
- ✓ Explore Theologie
- ✓ Explore Christian art and symbolism
