Can art save souls?

[_Morley]

Inner beauty can be earned only by hard work. By learning, been educating...

I couldn't disagree more. Inner beauty comes from engaging and being open to your fellow man. It comes from willing to be vulnerable, then actually being vulnerable. It comes from allowing others to be vulnerable with you. That's not work, it's a mindset. In fact, it's a spiritual awareness that is the essence of being Christian.

That doesn't come from a book.

Hoops. Aren't the things we've learned and done a portion of that 'inner beauty'?

[_Morley]

...
That doesn't come from a book.

The Bible.

[_Hoops]

Hoops. Aren't the things we've learned and done a portion of that 'inner beauty'?

I don't think so. I understand that you may think so and that's fine. I think the things we've learned and done become a part of what we can offer others. It's what we do with it that shows our inner beauty. You can learn quantum physics and then you are a learned man. But when you teach it to someone, you let someone experience your joy in it, you claim quantum physics as yours, then you become more inner beautiful.

I'm not saying physicists do not have inner beauty, of course they do. But they may change their inner beauty by giving us their love of hiking, or charcoal portraits, or building muscle cars - sharing that love with others. That's engaging, love, and vulnerability.

[_Hoops]

...
That doesn't come from a book.

The Bible.

Lots of people read the Bible and don't seem particularly vulnerable to me. Lots of people have never read it and are magnificently beautiful. I don't get your point.

[_Morley]

That doesn't come from a book.

The Bible.

Lots of people read the Bible and don't seem particularly vulnerable to me. Lots of people have never read it and are magnificently beautiful. I don't get your point.

You say, "In fact, it's a spiritual awareness that is the essence of being Christian. That doesn't come from a book." This is an interesting statement from a Christian, when one considers that the Bible, to Christians, is the book.

[Guest]

Hoops. Aren't the things we've learned and done a portion of that 'inner beauty'?

I don't think so. I understand that you may think so and that's fine. I think the things we've learned and done become a part of what we can offer others. It's what we do with it that shows our inner beauty. You can learn quantum physics and then you are a learned man. But when you teach it to someone, you let someone experience your joy in it, you claim quantum physics as yours, then you become more inner beautiful.

I'm not saying physicists do not have inner beauty, of course they do. But they may change their inner beauty by giving us their love of hiking, or charcoal portraits, or building muscle cars - sharing that love with others. That's engaging, love, and vulnerability.

Which all seems to be about learning and doing. No?

This 'vulnerability' can be learned. Perhaps even from a book. Or am I wrong?

[_Hoops]

That doesn't come from a book.

The Bible.

Lots of people read the Bible and don't seem particularly vulnerable to me. Lots of people have never read it and are magnificently beautiful. I don't get your point.

You say, "In fact, it's a spiritual awareness that is the essence of being Christian. That doesn't come from a book." This is an interesting statement from a Christian, when one considers that the Bible, to Christians, is the book.

Yep. It's application, engaging the text, making it a part of ones self. That's what Christians do with it. Reading it is only the first step.

[_Hoops]

I don't think so. I fully grant that I may be wrong and that you may have a better idea about this than I do. I think vulnerability can only be learned when one makes the decision to be vulnerable. You take your experiences and what you've learned - from whatever source - and offer it to someone else. You decided to engage. You decided to take a risk that might benefit someone else, or it might make you look foolish.

In fact, what we are doing right now is what I'm describing. We are willing to listen and engage the other.

[_Morley]

Yep. It's application, engaging the text, making it a part of ones self. That's what Christians do with it. Reading it is only the first step.

Like all reading, all learning, all experiencing of art and music. Incorporation into self.

[_Morley]

In fact, what we are doing right now is what I'm describing. We are willing to listen and engage the other.

Exactly. Thanks, Hoops.