What is the relationship of liturgy to theology? The author describes the economic nature of liturgy in order to reimagine cosmology, sacrifice, the figural reading of Scripture, and metaphysical realism where liturgy itself enacts an apocalypse of transcendent realities.
“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
Nathan Jennings is the J. Milton Richardson Associate Professor of Liturgics and Anglican Studies at Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, Texas. He is the author of Theology as Ascetic Act: Disciplining Christian Discourse (2010).