Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

Introduction

It is hard to argue against the value of graphics, symbols, diagrams, and charts to simplify the presentation of difficult theological themes. Who doesn’t like pictures and graphics when given to explain thorny ethical and theological issues? In many ways, we are image-making creatures, addicted to both symbol and metaphor as we communicate with others in the course of our everyday lives. The old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” proves true in daily conversation as well as in poetry, science, or any other intellectual work. More often than not, I find it difficult to finally comprehend the significance of an idea until I have illustrated, graphed, or symbolized the concept in some fashion or other. Good graphs and metaphors are ready tools to represent and summarize the key concepts and categories of any serious subject or field of study. The use of diagrams and picture graphs can greatly aid us as we seek to comprehend the deeper meanings of complex or hard-to-understand theological notions or spiritual concepts. Of course, all such effort in schematizing ideas and concepts via graphs and charts is more than a little over simplifying the truth, to say the least. Still, depicting complex ideas visually in graphs and diagrams is an essential and helpful aid to helping us look into and understand something that is extremely complex and difficult to understand. Although a graphic may sometimes be offered as a poor substitute for clear reasoning about an idea or concept, good metaphors, diagrams, or symbols can often be just the tool to help us grasp some mystery with better comprehension. The prophets and apostles often used visual pictures and metaphors to help God’s people understand God’s analysis of a situation, or lean into the meaning of some mystery or concept God was communicating with them. For example, the apostles used pictures of ordinary and familiar things to help us better comprehend the mysteries of God. Think of the metaphors related to the Church: it is the family of God, the body of Christ, and temple of the Holy Spirit. In order to know truly what the church is, you must delve into the meaning what a family is, how a body functions, and what a temple’s purpose consists of. Actually, without those pictures, you will never come to understand or fully appreciate what the Church really is, and what she should be doing in the world.