1. Approaches to the Study of Worship

2. Theological “God’s discourse” / “discourse about God” (etymology) “faith seeking understanding” (Anselm) “the study which, through participation in and reflection upon a religious faith, seeks to express the content of this faith in the clearest and most coherent language possible” (Macquarrie)

3. What does worship disclose about God (Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit)? What does worship disclose about human beings (communal / individual)? What does worship disclose about the created order (living and non-living)?

4. Historical Who [empirically recoverable] Did (or refrained from doing) what [adopt, adapt, reject cultural codes] When [temporal] Where [spatial] How [coordination of sign systems] Why [what did they think these texts/actions meant/accomplished?]

5. Non-written sources –Architectural environments –Art Used in worship Depicting worship –Objects employed Written sources –Used in worship Collections of presidential / popular texts Scriptural and legendary proclamations Music Ordines –Describing worship

6. Social Science / Pastoral Anthropological / Sociological –Arnold van Gennep: rites of passage –Victor Turner: liminality –Mary Douglas: purity/danger // group/grid –Ronald Grimes: ritual studies Psychological –Erik Erikson –Lawrence Kohlberg / Carol Gilligan –James Fowler