Starter quiz
- Calligraphy is ...
- the art of beautiful handwriting ✓
- a form of poetry
- a way of translating from Arabic
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- Most Muslims believe that it is forbidden to use __________ in mosques and books.
- abstract art
- figurative art ✓
- any art
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- The Psalms are books of ______ in the Bible.
- 'poetry' ✓
- Many Sikhs will listen to the poetry of the __________ being sung.
- Qur'an
- Torah
- Guru Granth Sahib ✓
- Ramayana
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Exit quiz
- Match the keywords to the correct definition.
- icon⇔a picture or painting used for Christian worship ✓
- Chi Rho⇔a symbol made up of the the first 2 Greek letters of the word Christ ✓
- stained glass window⇔a religious picture made from coloured glass often found in churches ✓
- venerate⇔to regard someone or something with great respect ✓
- Why were stained glass windows used in churches?
- to bring Bible stories to life for those who couldn’t read ✓
- they are a way that artists can worship God ✓
- they are told to in the Bible
- you have to have stained glass windows in order to be a church
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- Why don’t all churches have stained glass windows or statues?
- they can’t all afford them
- so as not to be distracted when they are worshipping ✓
- the Bible says not to make images of God ✓
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- What does the Chi Rho symbol represent?
- that Jesus is the beginning and the end ✓
- that Jesus was the Messiah
- that Jesus would save people
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- What type of art would you find in Greek Orthodox Churches?
- 'Icons' ✓
Worksheet
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Many churches used stained glass windows to tell stories from the Bible.
- Some churches use icons to worship and focus on God.
- Christian art often contains deeper symbolic meanings placed within images by artists.
- By examining different Christian attitudes to art we can better understand Christian worldviews.
Common misconception
All Christians view art in the same way.
There are differing Christian worldviews on the role of art. Some Christians use art as a form of devotion. Some, like many Orthodox Christians, venerate icons. Other Christians see art as distracting from a focus on God.
Keywords
Icon - a picture or painting used as a focus for Christian worship
Chi rho - the first two Greek letters of the word Christ used as an early Christian symbol
Stained glass window - a picture made from coloured glass often found in churches depicting scenes associated with Christianity
Venerate - to regard someone or something with great respect
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