Seeing and Believing

In a cinematic culture where multiple visions of reality «play» at the same time, it is critical that Christian believers know how to confidently identify and «discern,» among other stories, the Jesus-story that defines their most important commitment in life. Using the optical metaphor of the «eye of faith,» the author identifies the spiritual life as a «visual life.» Through themes such as «looking through Jesus' eyes,» the bible as a «visionary text,» and the church as a «wide-eyed people,» he builds a connecting bridge between the seeing-soul in Christian spirituality, and the twenty-first century as the «age of the eye.» The key words for this exploration are spirituality, discipleship, insight, luminescence, and optical «therapy.» The author proposes the need for a «catechism of the eye» that will lead to the renewal of Christian ministry, spirituality, discipleship, and identity.