John Tolley had already answered that questions pretty well, I think. Since approximately two-thirds of the people in the world process information primarily visually or kinesthetically, we're less likely to be able reach them if all we do is talk to them. Finding ways to present religious ideas with art and movement can be a powerful tool for communication.
I'd like to go a bit further with that idea.
If we're serious about transforming people's lives--and I think that we'd better be--then we're fooling ourselves if we think that we're going to get the job done by giving folks a few interesting ideas to think about on Sunday mornings. There's nothing wrong with interesting ideas --indeed, the world would be a much worse place without them. But I believe meaningful change starts to occur when people are able to open their hearts, and this process of opening our hearts is the fundamental work of religious communities.
Mere words work around the edges of our consciousness, while art pierces the layers of armor that our minds have created and allows us to feel a profound connection to that which is Universal. And those moments of connection, especially when shared in community, can make all the difference.
Meadville's current marketing motto is "Changing Lives to Change the World." Sometimes we have a tendency to give short shrift to the first part and concentrate more on the second part, which can be very discouraging, especially when we see all the tragedies and insanities that are featured prominently on the 24-hour news machine.
But real change is only possible when we know--when we really know--that we are connected to each other and to something greater than ourselves. Art anchors us in this connection and shines a light on the here and now, illuminating and lifting up the only thing that we really and truly have--this moment, this fleeting Now.
Change starts to happen when the light is shining.
