Divine Presence

Theology should be at home both in the academy and in the church. This book takes such dual affiliation seriously and lets the two different contexts illuminate each other. It explores how we should understand theology within the context of the current debate on theory of science and discusses the methodological implications of belief in God as Creator and in the incarnation. The first part of the book concludes by examining the consequences of theology's dual affiliation for the self-understanding of believers in general and theologians in particular. The second part deals with four different sources of theological knowledge and their relation to each other: the Bible, the history of the church, experience, and reason. Among the central issues are the status of the Bible in contemporary theology, the unity of the church, and the relationship between theology and the natural sciences. The central question is: where do we experience divine presence?

How do you represent the divine and the central miracles of Christianity? Divine Presence explores this question through the captivating world of marble representations in Late Gothic and Early Renaissance art. This groundbreaking study reveals how painters – including Fra Angelico, Bellini, Crivelli and Mantegna – transformed depictions of marble from mere decoration into a powerful theological tool. By blending naturalistic detail with imaginative color and texture, these artists created visual meditations on creation, incarnation, resurrection, and divine presence. Rooted in ancient beliefs that marble was a living substance, their works made the ineffable visible, inviting viewers to glimpse heaven through pigment and stone. The first visual study of this widespread visual phenomenon, Divine Presence offers fresh insights for art lovers, culture enthusiasts, and history buffs. Through stunning imagery, original research, and engaging texts, this book uncovers the spiritual and devotional power of painted marble in the art of the Late Gothic and Early Renaissance.

How do you represent the divine and the central miracles of Christianity? Divine Presence explores this question through the captivating world of marble representations in Late Gothic and Early Renaissance art. This groundbreaking study reveals how painters – including Fra Angelico, Bellini, Crivelli and Mantegna – transformed depictions of marble from mere decoration into a powerful theological tool. By blending naturalistic detail with imaginative color and texture, these artists created visual meditations on creation, incarnation, resurrection, and divine presence. Rooted in ancient beliefs that marble was a living substance, their works made the ineffable visible, inviting viewers to glimpse heaven through pigment and stone. The first visual study of this widespread visual phenomenon, Divine Presence offers fresh insights for art lovers, culture enthusiasts, and history buffs. Through stunning imagery, original research, and engaging texts, this book uncovers the spiritual and devotional power of painted marble in the art of the Late Gothic and Early Renaissance.