I've had so many hits on my post about Akiane Kramarik that I thought I'd revisit the subject. I've been watching with interest some of the interviews posted with her and looking at some of her art again. It's a very interesting story, and part of the intrigue is the mystery surrounding her and her family's beliefs.
Akiane Kramarik is an incredibly talented young artist whose paintings can now sell for millions of dollars. She has been featured on Oprah, CNN, Good Morning America and many others. Part of the intense interest around Akiane is due to the spiritual nature of her art and her claims to have received her inspiration from visions and dreams, beginning at an early age. As a 3-4 year-old girl, she would try to explain to her mother what she was seeing. Finally she began to draw what she had experienced.
Her mother, seeing her obvious talent, began to provide her with the tools she needed to develop. By the age of 8, her work had begun to win her recognition. For samples of her work, listed by age, go here. What is really remarkable is that Akiane's parents were atheists, she was also home-schooled and her family didn't own a television. Yet Akiane continuously provided a stream of spiritually themed art. This plus her continued insistence on her encounters with God eventually lead the whole family to convert to Christianity, according to her mother.
This spiritual journey seems to have changed between this interview in 2006 and 2010. In a wide-ranging video interview in 2010 Akiane spoke of her family's spiritual journey, referring to her own beliefs as non-denominational, and stating that she has always believed in God, and still does. She has painted Jesus, angels and heaven. Much of her art is about people, and is often blended with her poems. She would probably not refer to herself as a Christian but as "spiritual." She writes of other dimensions which she has visited in her visions and dreams, and often puts these visions onto canvas; she says that she has been given glimpses of the future and of the past.
As a pastor, I'm often asked for my opinion about Akiane and people like her. Is she for real? Does God really show her visions of heaven and other dimensions? Has she seen Jesus? Is this what He really looked like? These last questions come from the mention of Akiane's painting in the book, "Heaven Is For Real." This is a book about a young boy who had a near death experience and began to share things with his parents which they hadn't shared with him. He also claimed to have visited heaven and seen Jesus. The painting of Jesus that he claimed was authentic was the one that Akiane had painted at age 8.
Setting that aside, here are some thoughts. Firstly, the modern church has had a hard time knowing what to do with the arts. Generally speaking, the church has tried to put people into molds and keep them there. If artists don't fit the mold, they're often treated very harshly. This seems to have happened with Akiane, as she has received very sharp criticism of her work, even when she was a little child. She refers to some who have told her that her artwork is "demonic" because it has dark shadows in it, and she should burn it. On almost every website you'll find sharp criticism from very outspoken "Christians." Seeing this, I'm not sure how I would react as a new Christian if people told me my creations were demonic. This may help explain her continued spiritual searching. She seems to be saying what Mahatma Gandhi said: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Secondly, I do believe that Akiane is gifted with natural talent, and the Bible teaches us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. What we do with that gift or talent is our responsibility. It seems that Akiane is a sincere young lady, trying to make the world a better place. I also believe that children seem to have a much keener sensitivity to God, and much of her earlier work reflects that innocence.
Finally, and here is the part that I hope is not misunderstood, anyone who makes truth claims will be called upon to defend those claims. As Akiane gets older, her belief system will, no doubt, be refined. It is one thing to say that you were inspired to paint a certain work of art; it's another entirely to say that God has revealed some new truth to you for the benefit of the world. When you make a truth claim you will inevitably bump up against others and that will cause friction.
The question is, does Akiane's art reflect God-revealed truth or is it the product of a fertile imagination. My guess is that it is a little bit of both. As a Christian, my frame of reference is Scripture. The same Jesus that Akiane painted as an 8 year old stated clearly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) This is clearly a truth claim. It's also a large part of the reason that other religions have such a hard time with Christianity, it doesn't lend itself to compromise.
I, for one, will be watching Akiane's career with interest. She is a very gifted artist - who is doing very well for herself - and, no doubt, has a bright future. I do fear that her very narrow frame of reference (home-schooling, self-styled spirituality, and small management team) will keep her from having her beliefs tested. I believe in the spiritual principle that "iron sharpens iron," and that our experiences and beliefs need to be tested. I won't be rushing to judgment, however, it seems that there are enough people doing that.
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7 comments:
Going on the assumption that Who she met when she was four was Jesus, and that as time went along He "started explaining Himself to me", I'd say her relationship with Him is completely natural and, at least at one time, completely unstained by the institutional church or anything else. I think the Jesus she knows, the God she knows...well, she hasn't met many people who would seem to her to be a group that knows Him well at all. Since she knows that she knows Him, she also knows that "Christians" who are telling her she's demonic and satan-inspired are obviously blind. The God she knows wouldn't lead anyone to say that nor would anyone who is intimate with Him say anything like that. I think she's decided that the Christianity she's seen is nothing like the God she knows so well. And I would agree with her, myself. Paul said that the kingdom of God is not about words but about power, and it's not too hard to see why the institutional church today has all the words it can ever want, bearing an image of godliness but bereft of the power thereof. In my opinion, Akiane sees nothing familiar in what is put forth as Christianity today, and has therefore come to the conclusion that Christianity must not be it. Because eternal life is knowing God...and not obtained by arrival at correct doctrine...I'd say Akiane is in a much better position spiritually than most of those who blindly assail her.
While I do agree with parts of what you're saying, David, I think you've thrown out the baby with the bathwater, as so many have. Part of Jesus' mission was to establish the church - His bride, as revealed in His Word. While parts of it may be flawed, it is still His instrument in the world. What we must remember is that God will not contradict Himself, so, someone's private revelation cannot be taken as reliable if it is contrary to God's Word. That was the point of my comments above. The people who were so critical of a young Akiane were wrong, but it would be equally wrong to assume that all Christians are like that. True Christians are those who follow the teachings of Christ, and they are out there. Thanks for your comment.
"(John 14:6) This is clearly a truth claim."
This is clearly what John think was true (if the man who wrote it was a John). And it is clearly prone to personal interpretation. Messianic Jew will tell you Jesus said that to his people only, and like Judaism teaches - every religion is from god, none is completely true. Catholics will say it's about catholic church, not only bible and Jesus. Westboro baptists will send everybody to hell and go boycott gay parade :)
And it's "clearly right" that their interpretation is the one and only right interpretation.
I agree with Gandhi. Looking at majority of Christians, or any other religion to be fair... I don't think they changed since year 30, 100 or 300 AD. They were the same people writing gospels, writing letters, writing apocrypha, composing it all into bible, changing it here and there a little over decades, translating...
I'm looking at it from my degree perspective (religious studies with spec @ christian mysticism) and a little from catholic-raised person, but not a "infallible bible" believer. I'm biggest fan of sermon on the mount, and biggest saint Paul hater. Big fan of mother Teresa philosophy, Rumi's poetry... You can say - full time syncretism. I'm taking best parts from everything that helps me help other people feel happy around. If I have to suffer eternal punishment for that according to some, it's worth it :D
I hope my English is at least understandable, still learning..
btw.
"Part of Jesus' mission was to establish the church - His bride, as revealed in His Word."
My roman catholic spirit wants to comment on this one, but I'll pass =]
"God will not contradict Himself, so, someone's private revelation cannot be taken as reliable if it is contrary to God's Word."
http://sciencebasedlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/biblecontradictions-reasonproject.png
David G,
Thank you. So very well stated. Unstained by this fallen world. I believe Colton. I believe Akiane. I believe the children.
Jesus just wants us to love Him.
well its nice to see a christian who does not assail Akiane, who is obviously in good faith. Her works have inspired me to become a Christian and go to a church... even though it rings true when she says that everybody must find the way to the light at their own pace.
she has some amazing poems that do seem divinely inspired - so strange and yet talk to you after a few readings. She was visited by a Hindu swami and painted a picture of him, raising the ire of some Christians. But as she said, he was obviously a holy person.
Here i am reminded of the pharisees criticizing Jesus for breaking rules and so on...
Scripture and dogma versus a spiritual experience, the latter wins every time.
I too have met swamis and Buddhist monks, and some give off a real calm strength. If Jesus were here now, I sure he would have a few words to say to those christians who are so eager to discount our intuitions about spirituality and be closed minded about the possibility of spirituality in other faiths.
The truth in the end is more amazing than we can imagine, I beleive. AKiane points to this in her works "quantum universe" and "creation of the Universes" . she says she was shown there are several universes. So we have parallels with advanced physics and astrophysics here.
her painting of a road to a white house (a vision of heaven) shows weird colours, as she says "that we dont see on earth" which parallels the accounts of those who have had Near Death Experiences.
it must be remembered by Christians that she forces no-one to beleive her visions... although she is challenging because of her purity, Christians should continue as they wish, and not try to make her conform to their vision of things.
I do believe God uses all things for His glory. He is the creator, we are the created. Akiane has used this God given ability to glory Him. Through paints and poems others have taking a look at their lives and choosen God. I wish we could all find a way to walk upright and trusting perfectly in Him, however that will not happen because we are all broken, hence the reason we need Him. The church is His bride. We are broken people still trying to attain Him through our many different ways. I just want to know Him more. I pray God continues to bless her, and may she continue to grow in her personal walk with Him.
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