Artistic Expression and Religious Art Essay Example

Every religion has its own approach to art and architecture. A comparison between different traditions can offer an illuminating insight into the varying religious outlooks and theologies. Architecture, as well as art, is influenced by a number of forces in society, in the environment, in the psychology of the people who produce it, and in different institutions. It is an expression of inner feelings and beliefs and so naturally is influenced by religion in many societies. Religious architecture is created to experience the sacred, to provide a place into which spiritual energies flow and reflect a sense of the divine. Some religions speak of art directly or have tenets which influence what can and cannot be depicted in art. The scriptures of these religions are the theological basis and shape the way people in express themselves, and this includes how they express themselves through art and architecture. The architecture in Judaism, Christianity and Islam has important similarities and differences that are a result of the teachings of these faiths. Islamic architecture has evolved within Muslim culture in the course of the history of Islam. Therefore the term encompasses religious buildings as well as secular ones, historic as well as modern expressions, and all other structures that come under the varying levels of Islamic influence. A specific Islamic architectural style started to develop soon after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The style of early Islamic architecture grew from Roman, Egyptian, Persian, and Byzantine styles from the beginning. The completion of Dome of the Rock in AD 691 in Jerusalem can be identified an early example. The Dome featured interior vaulted spaces, a circular dome, and the use of repeating geometric and decorative patterns. The influence of the architectural and decorative styles of pre-Islamic Persia also became prominent. The Turks and the Mongols also brought in Central Asian influences on styles and thus, themes from one