No. A person does not have to comprehend Christ or his work to be inspired by his creation. Romans 1:20 says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Many great works of art demonstrate the power and beauty of this world without the impetus of Christian faith. The argument now becomes “Is this an incomplete expression?” I think I lack the perspective and authority to judge that.

All religions are not the same. The main religions Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam feature different founders and/or gods, writings, beliefs and practices. While they share some values, their differences are expressed through their art forms.

As a shared tool of communication, art has the power to unite people. Some examples: first, a picture of a tree made by an Aboriginal Pacific Ocean artist a century ago “reads” as a tree to a contemporary urban American teenager. This same teen can travel to China without Mandarin language skills and communicate with a rural child using a Pilot pen on a spiral notebook page. And this person can ask for a book about making Origami in almost any bookstore, worldwide, and find descriptions in any language.