Norman Rockwell and religious faith:

[guillaumeb]

Given how popular Rockwell is, and given how many of his paintings dealt with religion, what was Rockwell's relationship with belief?

From the article:

"My grandfather has been called a “nonbeliever.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Norman Rockwell didn’t go to church as an adult because of his early church experiences as a boy, but he was always very respectful of and moved by religion. He had his own quiet faith.........

You can begin to get an idea of someone’s faith by reading their personal letters and observing what items they surround themselves with. My grandfather would sometimes sign his notes with “God bless us all.” It is interesting to note that Pop placed two Madonnas in their own special niches in his studio..........

Perhaps we can all take a cue from my grandfather — it is far more important to respect someone else’s faith than to judge and condemn them for it. Goodwill toward one another is the compass he followed.
Blessings,
Abigail "

(Abigail Rockwell, his granddaughter)

To read more:
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2015/10/08/art-entertainment/real-rockwell/norman-rockwell-and-faith.html

[trotsky]

1. 'My Father, Norman Rockwell'

------------------
Q: Were you were raised in any religious faith?

A: No. My father's parents had been very, very strict Christians and made him do a lot of things, and he sort of reacted against that as far as going to church and that sort of thing. So we didn't very often go to church.

Q: So he didn't really practice any religion?

A: No, no. I think you can see that he still had feelings from his pictures, but he had been put off from going to church by draconian parents. You know, no family is really a "Norman Rockwell family."
------------------

(Thomas Rockwell, his son)

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/2006/10/my-father-norman-rockwell.aspx

[edhopper]

2. Is anyone saying

Rockwell was an atheist?

Hadn't heard that.

We do know he was very pro-Civil Rights.

[guillaumeb]

4. No, but there was a post that attempted to editorialize a bit.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Be less specific.

[guillaumeb]

6. I do not wish to offend.

[Cartoonist]

3. Anti-organized religion

I can respect that.

[Bretton Garcia]

7. Here's a link to our earlier discussion

Which I think was very good, and often very funny:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218250811

It seems that Rockwell was against much but not all of Christianity. His son stressed his disillusionment; his daughter felt he had some lingering faith.

[guillaumeb]

8. I think he respected and honored the Messenger,

and had issues with the behavior of some Christians.

[Bretton Garcia]

9. Looked like he liked the secular guy skipping Easter service.

Skipping some key parts of even the core elements of any presumed original figure.

[guillaumeb]

10. Your personal reading of the picture.

One reading only.

[Bretton Garcia]

11. The painting was probably painted in such a way ...

.. as to allow this reading, among others.

The churchgoers are rather obviously very straightlaced. With their noses literally in the air? All dressed alike. Looking rather like they are in their "Easter best." Looking a little proud and vain about their faith.

In contrast, the father seems rather gleefully unrepentant. Reading his secular newspapers.

[guillaumeb]

12. Any art is subject to the viewer's interpretations and projections.

As to pride and vanity, that is only your particular personal projection.

[Bretton Garcia]

13. I was an art and media critic and editor years ago.

It's not entirely subjective.

The painting we've discussed is Rockwell, "Easter" Morning, 1959. Their heads - and noses - are literally noticeably higher than usual. They are studiously not looking at the man of the family, who is staying home.

Here's a vaguely related article on this Post cover; and hypocrisy in those who report high church attendance. Most report about 40%. My own research estimates 4%.

[guillaumeb]

14. No, criticism is not entirely subjective.

But, no matter the medium, every work of art becomes personalized by every viewer who experiences the art. I loved the piece "Piss Christ", by Andres Serrano, but many people hated the piece. If Serrano's point was to humanize Christ that point was lost on those who saw the art as obscene.

[Bretton Garcia]

17. I remember the "Christ's Humanity" sermons.

They seemed mildly useful. But a little too sly. Since if Jesus was merely human, then likely he made mistakes. And committed sins. Maybe terrible ones.

So why should we keep studying Jesus so faithfully?

Unless say, we are interested in human beings - and say, the sins they probably committed in the name of religion.

[guillaumeb]

18. If one believes in Jesus as an aspect of the Creator,

and one also believes that Jesus was also human, is it not possible to see Jesus as the example?

And considering that we are all imperfect, we can find bad examples and bad behavior in every type of human.

[Bretton Garcia]

20. 1) If Jesus was human, then he was not perfect

2) If he was not perfect, then he would not always be the best example for us.

[trotsky]

21. You mean cursing a tree for not bearing fruit out of season...

might not be a great example?

[Cartoonist]

15. Related article?

Link please. I'm interested.

[Bretton Garcia]

16. Here's the link I forgot to include

http://nineteensixty-four.blogspot.com/2011/03/sunday-morning-deconstructing-catholic.html?m=1

[Cartoonist]

19. Dormant Catholics

I am reminded of a comedy bit, maybe National Lampoon radio.

In it a guy goes to confession. He tells the priest, I have not been to confession for two months. I missed church eight times.