Teological background and key aspects of Christian understanding of creativity

Christians believe that God perfectly freely created human beings and the whole world out of nothing. Terefore they place creative cognitive and constructive activity among their highest values. In contrast with pantheistic worldviews, the Christian doctrine of the creation of world by God out of nothing also means that divine nature does not determine human beings. In addition, the creativity is considered in Orthodox theology to be an expression of the image of God in humans. According to these theological lines, human being acquires the fullness of basic creative features, that is, freedom, openness, and uniqueness, in personal relations with God and people. Hence, from Christian theological perspective any genuine creative activity implies direct interpersonal communion, love, and responsibility. Tereby, Christian principle and crucial theological criterion of creativity consists in relatedness with divine and human persons. In full measure, this theological principle is inherent in church life. However, it is also significant for theological consideration of secular art, science, and technology