Arts, Spirituality, and Religion

Abstract

Throughout history, art has played a central role in the articulation of spirituality and the experience of the sacred. From its integration into religious rituals and sacred spaces to its capacity to transcend institutional boundaries, art has been a profound vehicle for exploring humanity’s connection to the divine. The historical use of art in religious rituals and sacred spaces forms the foundation of this inquiry, revealing how visual, architectural, and performative arts have facilitated spiritual experiences across cultures and eras. Beyond historical frameworks, artistic expression remains a powerful medium for both personal and collective spirituality, enabling individuals and communities to grapple with existential questions and express devotion in innovative ways. As the relationship between the arts, spirituality, and religion evolves in increasingly secular societies, new questions emerge about their role in navigating metaphysical concerns. For example, digital media arts and electronic music festivals have emerged as transformative spiritual vehicles in contemporary society, offering novel ways to experience connection, transcendence, and meaning in modern contexts. This Special Issue aims to analyze the dynamic intersections of arts, spirituality, and religion, exploring how these domains historically and contemporarily shape the human experience. It seeks to observe and uncover how artistic practises can serve as profound vehicles for expressing the spiritual and the sacred while challenging and reinterpreting traditional religious narratives. Contributions spanning various artistic forms—visual arts, digital media arts, music, literature, performing arts, or architecture—aim to explore the role of fostering spiritual connection, religious devotion, and existential inquiry. Simultaneously, spirituality, which often transcends institutional religious frameworks, finds resonance in abstract and non-representational practises and esthetics, where ambiguity invites subjective interpretation and deeper introspection. This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary perspectives from art, theology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, and technology, among others, to illuminate the transformative power of artistic languages connected to the metaphysical and the divine. Simultaneously, contemporary reinterpretations of the sacred through abstract and non-representational art challenge conventional religious narratives, inviting subjective engagement and introspection. Contributions are encouraged to explore how the arts foster inter-religious dialogue and cultural inclusion, serving as bridges between diverse spiritual traditions. Examining these intersections seeks to foster a deeper understanding of how the arts continue to shape and be shaped by spiritual and religious experiences in a promptly changing world.