Review by Booklist Review
Theologian Crossan (How to Read the Bible and Still be a Christian, 2015) and his wife, author of several YA novels, examine how Eastern Christianity differs from Western tradition in its understanding of Easter. The authors note that the resurrection of Christ, not witnessed firsthand, is therefore not directly described in scripture. Instead, centuries later, images were created to explain this mysterious act. Images also drive the Crossans' narrative; they say that the book is not text illustrated with images, but images discussed by texts, in keeping with Eastern Christian iconography, where icons are considered windows to deeper spiritual truths. The difference in the two Christianity's Easters encompasses sociological, cultural, and spiritual aspects. The West looks at Christ's resurrection as an individual act, while Eastern Christianity views it as universal, encompassing the whole world. This difference accounts for a great deal in how the two branches of Christianity continue to be practiced today. Readers interested in early Christian history or theology will want to give this a try.--Curbow, Joan Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
John and Sarah Crossan-biblical scholar and photographer, respectively-collaborate on this profound, radical work labeled by them as "a debate about ideas presented in and by images." The husband and wife team collect illustrations of Christ's resurrection from France, Italy, Romania, Syria, and Turkey, among other places, that demonstrate the divide between the Eastern and Western churches' interpretation of the resurrection of Christ. Sharply photographed by Sarah and keenly described by John, many of the oldest frescoes, illuminated scrolls of music, and embossed coins show Jesus reaching out to all of humanity-a view still honored by the Eastern church. However, the Western church later favored iconography of an individual resurrection, wherein Jesus rises to heaven alone. The Crossans theorize that, by breaking from the concept of universal resurrection, the evolving artwork from Western masters (such as Piero della Francesca, Raphael, and Rubens) reflects an emphasis on the individual that becomes central to Western thought after the Renaissance. Without attempting to provide answers, they openly wonder what such a transition means to Western Christianity's approach to understanding good and evil. This important book provocatively considers the ways Christian iconography surrounding the Resurrection has evolved over centuries and continents in response to cultural changes. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
