tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post319136231573500110..comments2023-10-20T05:43:34.414-07:00Comments on Artist's Work B.e.n.c.h.: White Iris: Vincent Van Gogh and How the Church Failed HimTodd and Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132004294403763440noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-29768098831338871422018-08-17T00:05:42.192-07:002018-08-17T00:05:42.192-07:00Good blog... keep-up the good work... May I share ...Good blog... keep-up the good work... May I share an Interview with Vincent van Gogh(imaginary) in http://stenote.blogspot.com/2016/07/an-interview-with-vincent.htmlstenotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01036496407806809635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-74435342263274663242014-05-02T10:15:34.378-07:002014-05-02T10:15:34.378-07:00The CHURCH is to blame for Vincent's terrible ...The CHURCH is to blame for Vincent's terrible emotional problems. He gave his all to serve the poor, just like Jesus commanded. But he was rejected for not wearing a fancy suit and giving fancy sermons in a fancy church. I wonder what Bible that church read from, and how they would have treated John the Baptist, who ate bugs and wore a burlap blazer. Christian Pharisees have done far more harm to the cause of Christ than unbelievers. If the church took Jesus' teachings LITERALLY, there wouldn't have been so many sick, starving miners for Vincent to preach to (before the church put a stop to his charitable ministry). All the fancy fixtures and golden paraphernalia in churches could feed a lot of poor people. Shame on the church that drove Vincent to such despair!http://banpreachergreed.tripod.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-45970139068514971992013-06-01T07:48:25.067-07:002013-06-01T07:48:25.067-07:00Well, as a former Catholic church member who was c...Well, as a former Catholic church member who was chastised for being creative all throughout my youth in Catholic schools, I can attest to my own evidence that this is true still today, as much as it was during the life of Van Gogh. I am still in recovery, trying to bring my creative mind back to life in order to fulfill my purpose to the world that the church tried to stifle in me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-85030973989386041182012-12-26T06:20:24.014-08:002012-12-26T06:20:24.014-08:00"Had the church intervened in this man's ..."Had the church intervened in this man's life, the tragedy of Van Gogh's end could have been re-written as a victory, and his art could be celebrated in church history as a shining example of how Christians can view the arts and deal with artists who have "difficult" temperaments…God sent an artist, and his church failed him." <br /><br />I am no historian so I can't offer proof from other sources, but I don't see enough evidence in this blog post to prove that the church didn't try to "intervene". Not sure that is even the right word. You can try to step in front of someone to attempt to help/protect them often and be pushed out of the way with a refusal. You can step back up again and try… and we do.<br /><br />I can cite similar cases from my own experiences as a church leader where people with mental illnesses have been shown much genuine kindness and have refused it time and again. So what do we do? We keep trying. We offer food, counsel, prayer, shelter… Short of coercing someone to accept these kindnesses (which obviously we will not do) what else can be done?<br /><br />Can we do better? Of course. But I tire of the prevalent mentality that assumes that every ill of society is a result of the failures of the church. <br /><br />Did the church fail Vincent van Gogh? It is entirely possible. Did the church cause his mental illness? Likely not. Did other Christians try to minister to him during his time of mental illness? As far as I can tell, we don't know. <br /><br />Many quotes are provided in the post, for which I am thankful, but not much in the way of supporting the main thesis. For example: "Again, the church was very “hands-off” in Vincent’s time of torment." I'm not saying it ISN'T true, but can you give me some evidence? From a letter of his? From an historian? <br /><br />This is actually the kind of thing I prefer to stand behind and would gladly relay it to my own church if it were more convincing.<br /><br />Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on an important issue on this day of blatant (and unimportant) consumerism. :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04218795032045939000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-8703620660155318142009-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:002009-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:00i think a LOT of pastors and board members and oth...i think a LOT of pastors and board members and other people should read this to see what kind of bad affect they have on creative people who are ignored or treated badly.It happens all the time in our church and we have had a lot of friends quit ministery because no one listened to them or cared about what God had given them to share.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498176284819675745.post-62701652156842633112009-02-03T18:17:00.000-08:002009-02-03T18:17:00.000-08:00i want my pastor and church staff to read this art...i want my pastor and church staff to read this article. i think it hits the nail on the head. do you think they will understand it if they read it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com