S4 E22 | Dr. Lanta Davis | Cultivating The Christian Imagination: How Stories, Art & Prayer Can Transform Our Spiritual Lives

The Alabaster Jar

In this conversation, Dr. Lanta Davis joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her book, Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation, as they talk about the concept of spiritual formation through the imagination and the role of art in shaping our faith. They explore the idea that forming the soul means forming the imagination and how ancient Christians viewed the imagination to receive and be shaped by images and stories. They also discuss the practice of imaginative prayer and its power to bring scripture to life. The conversation also delves into the themes of icons, virtues, and vices, highlighting the importance of cultivating the virtues and recognizing the dangers of vices.

Key Takeaways:

• Forming the soul means forming the imagination, a powerful spiritual formation tool.
• Imaginative prayer allows us to enter scripture and experience it more personally and holistically.
• Icons act as windows that point beyond themselves, inviting us to gaze beyond the image and encounter the divine.
• Virtues and vices are personified and can be understood through visual representations, such as statues and paintings.
• Prudence is the guiding virtue that sets the course for the other virtues and helps us make wise decisions.

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 - Introduction to Becoming by Beholding
02:14 - Forming the Soul through the Imagination
10:13 - Encountering the Divine through Icons
31:45 - Cultivating Virtues and Recognizing Vices
42:00 - The Guiding Role of Prudence

Episode Resources:
Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation
The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Episode Sponsor:
The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology. Learn more about The Center for Women in Leadership at: https://www.leadershipwithoutapology.org/.