Liturgy and Theology: Economy and Reality

“During the decades since the authorization of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, liturgical focus in the Episcopal Church has remained primarily on liturgical texts: the revision of traditional texts and the creation of new rites. What has been generally lacking is a serious consideration of their underlying meaning: what is the liturgical act? Nathan Jennings’ challenging book offers readers valuable insight into what it is that we, the people of God, are doing when we gather for liturgical prayer.”

— Louis Weil, Hodges-Haynes Professor Emeritus of Liturgics, Church Divinity School of the Pacific; author of Liturgical Sense



“Although (but also precisely because) it will push many contemporary theologians out of their comfort zones, whether in church or academy or both, Nathan Jennings’ voice needs to be heard! He straightforwardly argues that a thorough theological understanding of what is going on in Christian liturgies

requires and assumes a metaphysical realism. The reasons for that emphatic claim are not primarily inspired by discursive reasoning, detailed historiographical research, or dialogues with contemporary philosophers. Rather, it is a profound reflection on the Scriptural roots of liturgy, as well as a deep awareness of the primarily doxological nature of Christian worship, which urge Jennings to develop his position. In spite of mild polemic undertones, his engaging ideas and fine prose will attract a broad readership beyond the limits of theological schools, denominations, and cultures.”

—Joris Geldhof, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium



“Nathan Jennings has produced a brilliant short primer in liturgical theology, regarded as the core of theology as such. He very well shows how this truer perspective integrates the Platonic and philosophical with the apocalyptic and Biblical aspects of Christianity, and shows them to be inseparable. A crucial text for the future.”

—John Milbank, author of Theology and Social Theory

“During the decades since the authorization of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, liturgical focus in the Episcopal Church has remained primarily on liturgical texts: the revision of traditional texts and the creation of new rites. What has been generally lacking is a serious consideration of their underlying meaning: what is the liturgical act? Nathan Jennings’ challenging book offers readers valuable insight into what it is that we, the people of God, are doing when we gather for liturgical prayer.”

— Louis Weil, Hodges-Haynes Professor Emeritus of Liturgics, Church Divinity School of the Pacific; author of Liturgical Sense



“Although (but also precisely because) it will push many contemporary theologians out of their comfort zones, whether in church or academy or both, Nathan Jennings’ voice needs to be heard! He straightforwardly argues that a thorough theological understanding of what is going on in Christian liturgies

requires and assumes a metaphysical realism. The reasons for that emphatic claim are not primarily inspired by discursive reasoning, detailed historiographical research, or dialogues with contemporary philosophers. Rather, it is a profound reflection on the Scriptural roots of liturgy, as well as a deep awareness of the primarily doxological nature of Christian worship, which urge Jennings to develop his position. In spite of mild polemic undertones, his engaging ideas and fine prose will attract a broad readership beyond the limits of theological schools, denominations, and cultures.”

—Joris Geldhof, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium



“Nathan Jennings has produced a brilliant short primer in liturgical theology, regarded as the core of theology as such. He very well shows how this truer perspective integrates the Platonic and philosophical with the apocalyptic and Biblical aspects of Christianity, and shows them to be inseparable. A crucial text for the future.”

—John Milbank, author of Theology and Social Theory