76International In the summer of 2023, a group of 25 students visited Italy for a course titled “Theology of Beauty.” The experience was an initiative of the newly formed Theological Studies Program in the College of Bible and Ministry. Although the trip was an abbreviated abroad experience, students left with their own perspective of beauty challenged by the art and culture of Italy and deepened relationships with their fellow peers. The trip, led by Dr. Mac Sandlin, associate professor of Bible and ministry, focused on what it meant to experience God’s character through the beauty of another culture and location. “The focus of this trip was academic,” Sandlin said, “It was about exploring the ideas. The content of the course determined the shape and the nature of the trip. So it wasn’t first and foremost a trip to Florence where students took a class, it was first and foremost a class that felt like it would be best served by doing it in Italy. To me the dream of the class came first, and then it occurred to me, ‘Oh it would be cool to do that in Florence because it would tie into the material on beauty’.” Through their experiences in Italy, students formed unique definitions of what beauty and theology meant personally. Senior Rebecca Kearney-Dunker described how she defined the “theology of beauty.” “We studied how God’s character can be seen through beautiful things,” Kearney-Dunker said, “To use a metaphor we relied on, the Holy Spirit is like the light shining through stained glass; without the light, the beauty of the glass would be kind of ugly and dull.” Other students also formed their own definitions of beauty. Junior Jiana Manglicmot was asked how her perception of beauty had changed after her experience on the trip. “I think my definition of beauty, at least what I see beautiful, has changed from the beginning of the trip to now because I think I would reserve beauty for very specific things,” Manglicmot said. “To me being able to see beauty in everything and everyone makes beauty that much grander and that much more special.” A WORLD OF “To me being able to see beauty in everything and everyone makes beauty that much grander and that much more special.” - Jiana Manglicmot Over the Ponte Vecchio | A rainbow arches over the Arno River after a rainy evening in Florence. Throughout the tour of the city, students found beauty in the art, architecture and God’s creation. Photo courtesy of Katie Shanks Beauty Students left Italy with more than a definition of what beauty and theology are. Junior Cerra Cathryn Anderson said she was excited to change as she learned more about recognizing beauty in the seemingly mundane and how a challenged perspective impacted her relationship with the Lord. “I was wanting to experience Italy with a different perspective, a more focused perspective,” Anderson said. “I was wanting to grow personally closer to the Lord through an aspect of his character that I just don’t get to experience much intentionally.” Students said they grew in their relationships both with the Lord and with their peers. Relationships quickly became one of the most cherished aspects of the trip to students. Senior Chase Preston said he was grateful for the opportunity to join the HUF program and enrich himself in another culture and become friends with those he may not have otherwise. “I’m extremely thankful for that trip because I don’t think I would have gotten to know those people had I been on Harding’s campus,” Preston said. “I got to know people that I wouldn’t have normally gotten to know, and I got extremely close with them, and now we’re all best friends.” Students said they began the trip as individuals but traveled home together as a new family. Their perspective of beauty was altered by the experiences in Italy, but they also saw beauty in each other that continued as the students returned home. “I didn’t leave my favorite part of Italy,” Manglicmot said. “Everyone came back here, and that was the best part of it. We get to continue seeing each other, and that is just so sweet.” Students said the lessons they learned — the beauty in God’s creation and the beauty in relationships — were invaluable and continued to inspire them. Written by Alyson Voigt Harding offers a course on the “Theology of Beauty” with a two week experience in Italy.
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