S12 E02: A Social Imaginary with Karen Swallow Prior

What role does the imagination play in shaping the identity of a culture? Our collective imagination provides metaphors, stories and symbols that bind people groups together and create a common understanding of the world. But what happens when those metaphors no longer carry the same meanings? Or even worse, when those stories and metaphors no longer create unity but bring division and harm? Professor and writer Karen Swallow Prior addresses these concerns in her book The Evangelical Imagination. She tells us, contemporary American evangelicalism is suffering from an identity crisis - and a lot of bad press. In this episode, Karen discusses what Charles Taylor called ‘A social imaginary’ and how artists and creatives can respond to the evangelical crisis of identity and bring healing to our cultural fractures. Hear an additional interview segment with Karen on Julian of NorwichJoin our creative collectiveKaren’s WebsiteFollow us on InstagramTranscriptSend us Fan MailSupport the showVISUAL ARTS RETREAT:  If you're looking for creative renewal, meaningful connection, and space to deepen your artistic practice,  I want to invite you to our upcoming retreat in Moravian Falls, North Carolina, July 10th through 12th.  Applications are open, but space is limited. Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1Give a one-time donation https://buy.stripe.com/9AQeYj7431fD12waEOJoin the Makers & Mystics Creative Collective https://www.patreon.com/c/makersandmystics