How-to-Draw Books, Emotions, and Popes

I've been reading 'how to' books on drawing and related topic lately. I remember one author recommending that a good way to learn how to draw facial expressions was to observe folks who used a lot of emotion in their work: like political and religious leaders.

It's pretty good advice, actually. And I'm pretty sure it was written by an American. This country is enduring an election campaign right now, with the predictable emotion-laden advertising. Which is another topic.

The point is that there's nothing particularly odd about an American assuming that religious leaders all put on displays of fervent histrionics when addressing the faithful. This country has had quite a few enthusiastic revivalists and evangelical preachers. The sort of person you might expect to be called something like Billy-Bob Bombast and his First Call Revival Band.

There's noting wrong with emotions - and there are some religious leaders whose chief characteristic seems to be a knack for plucking people's heartstrings.

Then there's the Catholic Church.

Like I said, there's nothing wrong with emotions: but our religious leaders?



The Popes don't seem to have put a high priority on inflaming the masses - or anybody else.

Not that Catholic leaders don't crack a smile now and then.



And, when the occasion warrants it, popes can get downright theatrical.



Like I said: There's nothing wrong with emotions. But not all religious leaders depend on getting people fired up, to achieve their goals.

Actually, the way I see it, what the Catholic Church has to say works at least as well when a person's emotions are at low ebb, and the frontal cortex is able to work at full capacity. And that's yet another topic. (Another War-on-Terror Blog (December 23, 2008))

Related posts:

• "Becoming Catholic for Reasons, Leaving Because of Feelings"
  (August 5, 2010)
• "Really 'Spiritual' Experiences: Those are Okay"
  (April 22, 2010)
• "Feeling Forgiven: My Faith and Emotional Perks"
  (November 24, 2009)
• "Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Born August 26, 1910"
  (August 26, 2009)
  Particularly
  • Mother Teresa's Letters and the Dark Night of the Soul
• "Dying to Ourselves, Dying to Self: Not Exactly a Feel-Good Religion?"
  (March 3, 2009)

Photo sources:

• "Abuse of Minors. The Church's Response"
  (2010)
• "Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi On Evangelization in the Modern World"
  Pope Paul VI, via United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (December 8, 1975)
• "Pope John Paul II"
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• "Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage"
  (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• "General Information"
  Holy See Press Office, State of Vatican City (as updated September 15, 2006)