Making Good: Creation, Creativity, and Artistry

God spoke, and all that is and all that ever will be came into existence. God alone can be called uncreated and Creator, and creation can only accomplish that which already exists within God's imagination. In Making Good, Trevor Hart argues that human creativity is always a matter of unfolding the possibilities already latent within the original creative event. Making Good contends that while humans must acknowledge the unique and incomparable dimensions of God's creative activity, the biblical theology of creation encourages rather than prohibits human creativity within a language of creation. Hart's basic contention is that the God known as the Father of Jesus Christ is no domineering deity who jealously seeks to protect his creative prerogatives, but one whose own creativity calls forth, inspires, and enables creative responses on the part of his human creatures. Making Good blends biblical, historical, and systematic theology into conversation with philosophy, aesthetics, and developments in creative theory among the social sciences. Hart renders a theological account of human artistry and the wider human activities of making good.

Review :
"Is creation something that only God the Creator does? Do artists just imitate creation, compete with God as creators, or participate in God's continuing creative work? These are the questions at the heart of Trevor Hart's rich investigation, in which he draws on the Bible, the history of art and ideas, philosophy, and creativity studies to build a theological account of creativity in the arts. Making Good throws light on the doctrine of creation as it interrogates the nature of human creativity. It is likely to prove a landmark study in its field."--Richard Bauckham, Emeritus Professor, University of St Andrews "Making Good is a wise and wide ranging study of human creativity, a rich and provocative topic with a complex history. With great skill and sensitivity Trevor Hart creatively draws modern philosophy, aesthetic theory, and Christian theology into a sustained dialogue, as he explores our call to active participation in the Trinitarian drama of creation and redemption."--Roger Lundin, Arthur F. Holmes Professor of Faith and Learning, Wheaton College "Trevor Hart has distinguished himself over many years as an eminently sane, theologically acute, and immensely stimulating thinker. This volume is the result of many years of labour, and any with even a passing interest in artistic making will benefit enormously from the wisdom contained in its pages."--Jeremy Begbie, Duke University