The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

120 of reality.” Yet, truth is found in accurate portrayals of humanity. Absence of the supernatural does not lessen the realities of sorrow or distress. To adequately answer the world’s problems, one must firstly be well-acquainted with them. The dire need for rescue from the world’s flaws cannot be fully realized unless one carefully and unbiasedly discerns them. The fallen nature of creation, humanity’s depravity, and the degenerative cycle of post-fall nature, directly coincide with Biblical revelation. By temporarily viewing the world from a non-Christian perspective, one gains a more comprehensive understanding of humanity and the disastrous effects of sin on creation. The figure’s face shown in The Scream, exudes a common feeling within the lost soul—alienation. This alienation and loneliness results from the absence of fellowship with God. It conveys the loneliness of the unsaved life, and the confusion that results from recognizing something is amiss within oneself. The twisting nature of the backdrop shows the chaos and disorder occupying the enclosing world. This “scream” described by Munch is echoed within the scriptures, such as in Romans 8:22: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The verse speaks about the secular recognition that the Earth is in a sinful bondage and groans in pain. The Christian mind can use this perspective to achieve greater understanding regarding the depravity of life and find common ground with those who do not hold to Christian theology. The Scream is an example of non-Christian expression that adequately communicates several aspects of the issues facing humanity. For these reasons, The Scream is beneficial for the Christian to examine for greater knowledge and intellectual maturity. Another example that shows artwork from different worldviews being profitable for the Christian observer is The Persistence of Memory. Created by Salvador Dali in 1931, The Persistence of Memory is a forefront example of modern surrealist art. Surrealism aims to combine dreams and reality into artwork; it stems from Dadaism, a style deeply mingled in the political far-left. Not only was Dali an artist, but also a philosopher who studied the works of Freud and Nietzsche. Dali’s The Persistence of Memory provides insight into his philosophical worldview. The painting is a compilation of many concepts including time, death, reality, and life. Three melting clocks are depicted in the painting which convey