Studies on worship

Rita D. Sherma (Routledge London, Copyright): This volume marks the first wide-ranging and multi-vocal academic survey of the major types and categories of Hindu contemplative praxis from a breadth of scholarly viewpoints that reflect both (a) the variegation in types of contemplative practices within the Hindu traditions and (b) the use of Hindu internal hermeneutical perspectives for expanding the concept of contemplation beyond definitions that-though incrementally enriched by content from Buddhism-are still normatively constrained by Christian understandings of the concept. Part of the reason that the field remains fairly unrepresentative of the breadth of religious lives across cultures lies in the dearth of academic works, from scholars of diverse religions, on the subject of contemplative studies. Contemplative Studies, as a discipline, 1 can be approached via several avenues: (a) a rigorous focus on religious practices of contemplation, their history, and function within the context of one or more spiritual traditions; (b) the secular and interdisciplinary field of the study and pedagogical application of contem-plative practice and experience which may include methods extracted from religions or developed in engagement with other areas of inquiry; (c) neuroscientific approaches that analyze the effects of contemplation, and (d) its study and therapeutic applications in the health sciences. Finally, there are programs, which call for a transdisciplinary research methodology, 2

Jesus desires that we should be set apart to a holy way of life, and then “sent into the [evil] world [system in opposition to God established by Satan]”  to carry out God’s plan in spreading the good news of redemption to those who oppose and hate Him (John 17:17 - 18).

Christian performing artists are to communicate God’s Word amid opposition from the world’s sin, its values, and its goals e.g., “cash rules everything, get drunk, have random sex, and party till you drop."

The author's many years of research has led to two main conclusions: Firstly, in Keros was worshiped a pair of gods, the great Goddess of the earth and the wild beasts, who, depending on the people that arrived to the island, took the names Ishtar, Semele, Demeter, Artemis Maa, and her associate, who was also mentioned as Attis, Pappas (besides, the highest mountain of Keros is still called so), and Dionysus.
Secondly, after the submersion  of the narrow land corridor between Keros and its cape (or the elevation of the sea) due to an earthquake, people who resorted to the island named the cape "Δασκύλλιον" (today Daskalio).
Since 2700 B.C., specialized metals craftsmen were installed, who processed imported raw materials and made tools and objects. Because of their specialty, they needed goat and wild animal skins, animal protein to live on, and protection from god Dionysus (see Κουτελάκης, Θέατρο και μεταλλωρύχοι-μεταλλουργοί / Koutelakis, Theater and Miners - Metallurgists, Athens 2016), whom they continued to worship, as did the previous ones.
The abandonment of Daskalio is probably due to the collapse of the ecosystem, as the amount of fuel for the metallurgical furnaces was huge, and secondly because the population of goats and chamois (Kri-Kri) that lived for centuries in Keros went extinct.

Ruth's testimony of her conversion from puritanism to Anglicanism and to worship with the Book of Common Prayer. WHEN PRINTING set (1) landscape orientation (2) flip on short edge (3) double-sided. Makes a nice one-page pamphlet. Free for use in outreach if desired.

This essay argues that the center of Quaker Faith and Practice is the immediacy of Christ; connected to the center are convictions regarding authentic worship, universal ministry, incarnational sacramentology, nonviolent peacemaking, consensus decision making and a witness to simplicity.

_Singing the Congregation: How Contemporary Worship Music Forms Evangelical Community_ examines how the widespread adoption of a pop-rock-style congregational music shapes the way evangelical Christians understand worship. The book demonstrates that participatory worship music performances have brought into being new religious social constellations (“modes of congregating”). Through detailed ethnographic accounts of five of these modes—concert, conference, church, public, and networked congregations—this book seeks to reinvigorate the analytic categories of “congregation” and “congregational music.” Drawing from theoretical models in ethnomusicology, congregational studies, and contemporary ecclesiology, the congregation is re-conceived as a fluid, contingent social constellation that is actively performed into being through communal practice—in this case, the musically-structured participatory activity known as “worship.” By extension, “congregational music-making”  is recast as a participatory religious musical practice capable of weaving together a religious community inside and outside local institutional churches. Congregational music-making is not only a means of expressing local concerns and constituting the local religious community; it is also a potent way to identify with far-flung individuals, institutions, and networks that comprise this global religious community. The unique congregations explored in each chapter include but extend far beyond local churches, revealing widespread conflicts over religious authority and far-ranging implications for how evangelicals position themselves relative to other groups in North America and beyond.


The introduction sets out the book’s scope, argument, and goals, places the musical repertoire and religious community in historical and cultural context, and frames the study in relationship to recent scholarship in ethnomusicology, evangelical studies, and congregational music studies. It defines contemporary worship music in North American and global perspectives and discusses its relationship to closely related Christian popular music genres. The chapter then situates the rise of contemporary worship music in relationship to widespread conflicts over shifts in evangelical worship practices known as the “worship wars,” the development of the Christian music recording industry, the adoption of new technologies within congregational worship, and the influence of pentecostal-charismatic Christian practices. Finally, in describing the book’s research methods, I explore the challenges faced navigating distance and proximity in the field as a result of my own religious upbringing as an evangelical and my complex relationship to communities in my study.

Many denominational preachers (“pastors”) teach the concept of tithing. Some DEMAND that their members tithe. Others go so far as to require a look at everyone’s tax records to assure they are complying. Such action is not acceptable if it cannot be backed it up with scripture. Either tithing is part of the gospel or it is not. If it is not and a preacher says it is then he is preaching another gospel.

Paul F. M. Zahl writes about “Formal-Liturgical Worship”, which he also calls Bible-based verticality. He defines the concept formal as “dignified service that is not governed by the spontaneity of the moment or the spontaneity of the officiant. It means service in a form, within a mold. It is not off the cuff or as mood would govern. Rather, it accepts the constraint of a consistent and predictable pattern.” And, liturgical means it is a “prescribed worship, service that is required for a given occasion.” He insists on the prominence of the Bible as the source for all kind of worship. It must be based on the Word. Theology has to precede the act of worship, he says.

Abstract
This project will investigate the link between physical expression and emotions in music.  Since the emotive nature of music is already well known, it will focus on the following questions:
1. Is physical expression a natural result of emotions?
2. Alternatively, can emotions be induced by physical expression?
Section A will explore the answers to these questions using musicology.  After demonstrating that bodily movements both express and induce emotions, it will deal briefly with the possible danger of manipulation.  In section B, the Bible’s teaching on bodily expressions used in worship will be investigated.  After a broader framework of holistic worship has been established, it will explore some key worship terms in Hebrew and Greek.  Examples of physical gestures used in worship in the Bible will be given, followed by physical gestures used in musical worship.  In section C, musicology and the Bible will be brought into dialogue with each other.  In particular, the bi-directional nature of physical expression and emotions in music will be discussed from the perspective of both fields of study.  Practical implications for corporate worship involving music will be teased out .  Finally, it will be established that physical gestures should be used in corporate worship and concluding recommendations will be made.

THE HOUR IS COMING AND IS NOW HERE”: THE DOCTRINE OF INAUGURATED ESCHATOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY EVANGELICAL WORSHIP MUSIC Matthew David Westerholm, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016 Chair: Dr. Esther R. Crookshank This dissertation critically evaluates the portrayal of the doctrine of inaugurated eschatology in an identified core repertory, the most-used contemporary congregational worship songs in churches in the United States from 2000 through 2015. Chapter 2 explores views on the role of congregational singing as it relates to the presence of God and the spiritual formation of the believer. It compares Edith Humphries’ concept of the worship service as “entrance” with Ryan Lister’s view that God’s presence is both a goal and a means of accomplishing his purposes. Then, using the work of James K. A. Smith and Monique Ingalls, chapter 2 explores the role congregational song plays in forming the identity of churches and believers. The chapter concludes by suggesting...

In the past decades, worship is infamous for its wars over forms. This is mainly due to many Christians confusing worship with music. These Christians come in various persuasions from a libertine end all the way to the other end. In retaliation, some Evangelical theologians respond by saying that what matters is the heart and, hence, implying indifference on forms presumed to be preferential. Many have since written articles on worship wars and on biblical worship in the spectrum of whether or not forms matter. What seems to be the consensus among Christians who uphold the authority of the Bible is that acceptable worship must come from a sincere heart and involves all of life. Therefore, this paper seeks to biblically evaluate the relationship between the essence and forms of worship to constitute true worship.

A study of how worship style can and has affected musical literacy in many denominations throughout Australia. Presents some reasons and solutions for congregational illiteracy and non- participation in worship music using Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, socratic reasoning and quotes from contemporary musicians and musicologists.

Ayat Yokhanan 4:24 merupakan satu topik pembicaraan yang sangat banyak diangkat oleh para pengkotbah Kristen dengan persfektif tafsirnya masing-masing sehingga menimbulkan banyak sekali persepsi terhadap ayat ini dan membuat banyak orang tidak bisa memastikan apa maksud konteks pembicaraan Maran Yeshua dengan wanita Samaria ini...

This thesis looks at developments in evangelical/Pentecostal contemporary Christian worship music (CWM) in response to its theological critiques and analyzes the effects they are having on what training worship leaders will need. CWM has grown into a global phenomenon that largely either disregards or is ignorant of its theological critics. The rapid rate of churches adopting CWM practices in their services has led to numerous universities creating post-secondary degrees in Worship Leadership focused specifically on modern expressions of worship. This thesis uses a convergent parallel mixed methods research model to analyze how worship practices are changing in key evangelical-turned-sacramental churches to determine the worship education needs of worship leaders in similar churches. The research results can be used by universities to adapt or create Worship Leadership degrees that properly equip students for careers in the current and future church job marketplace. Churches can use these findings to help them navigate similar transitions in their worship practices. This research showed that evangelical-sacramental churches still use contemporary and modern musical genres but also use traditional songs. The research shows that these churches require worship leaders to be proficient in modern and traditional music styles, historical worship practices, songwriting, and pastoral care.

Explore the collaboration and dimension of
spiritual warfare in Pentecostal worship and studies to understand the dynamics of Pentecostal worship and spiritual warfare matters for churches today which has many different forms and expressions of worship.

What I will do in this paper, then, is to address the theme of liturgy, language and culture with regards to liturgical ‘reform’ from my perspective as an African, although remaining conscious of the fact that I am a ‘pale native’ . I will do this with my own presupposition, which will obviously determine my assessments, namely that the worship traditions and churches I will be talking about are mostly initiated by Africans for Africans.  I will discuss and develop themes that I believe are at the core of these processes and that can assist in better understanding worship in some parts and among certain denominations in Africa.  Here, of course, I have to immediately qualify what I am saying and add that it is indeed not possible to generalise about worship in Africa or religion in Africa as if we are talking about one monolithic entity, just as it is impossible to do so with reference to other continents. However, there is a general consensus amongst many scholars  that there are indeed discernible features that are somewhat unique to religion and specifically also to Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In this paper I offer critical attention to the notion of atmosphere in relation to music. By exploring the concept through the case study of the Closed Brethren worship services, I argue that atmosphere may provide analytical tools to explore the ineffable in ecclesial practices. Music, just as atmosphere, commonly occupies a realm of ineffability and undermines notions such as inside and outside, subject and object. For this reason I present music as a means of knowing the atmosphere. The first part of this paper points to the limits of an understanding of atmosphere as a constellation of things, as proposed by Gernot Böhme. In contrast to this, Hermann Schmitz conceptualises atmosphere as half-thing which suggests movement. By expanding on this point, I argue that it is not solely an effect of music to trigger movement but that music itself is movement. Hence I propose to methodologically approach atmospheres as movements. Consequently, in the second part of this paper I closely analyse two motions as they cohere in Closed Brethren worship services: first, becoming (Deleuze and Guattari), a movement on the level of the individual worshiper; secondly, territorialisation (Deleuze and Guattari), a movement of the atmosphere towards its solidification. Here music as atmosphere is not a system of moral signification but a generative power affording intimate processes of divine encounter, whilst producing affective denominational difference.

The aim of this paper is to offer a brief presentation of the overall worship activity of the early Church. The area of research is extended from the New Testament period until the first quarter of the fourth century (Ante-Nikene period). We focus mainly in the ritual diversity of the Christian communities of the Greco-Roman world as it is reflected from the texts of the New Testament. We present then, the evolution of the rituals during the next two centuries. In this process Christianity was influenced not only from Judaism but also from the gentile world. For example, the hymns used by Christians during this period that are not quoted from the Old Testament, reflect the Greek poetic aspects. In many ways and mainly, very early the Christians communities transformed many aspects from the surrounding gentile world within their worship.
This period is the most difficult for research of the above subject because of the absence of sources. In the New Testament we have only abstract information from which it is impossible to conclude with certainty what really happened in Christian congregations during the first years. The problem remains in the writings of the church fathers or the gentile writers of the next two centuries but of course the evidence is more accurate. The most important thing is that very early the worship of Jesus became the exclusive worship of the Church.

Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee had a unique relationship during the Jesus Movement, a youth awakening that impacted two to three million people during the late 1960s and 1970s.  The unexpected relationship between the Hippie movement and Jesus movement is explored. Both movements resulted into new forms of music, coffeehouses, communes, underground papers, and films.  The abuse that Frisbee received as an eight-year-old from his babysitter impacted his ability to trust and work with father figures like Chuck Smith, and later on, John Wimber.  Lonnie was foundational in the birthing of both the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard movements, which have birthed thousands of churches in North America and around the world.

7ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο με τίτλο «Εκπαίδευση και Πολιτισμός στον 21ο αιώνα», 15-17 Απριλίου 2022, Αθήνα.

http://ekedisyconference.weebly.com/

(with Nikolaos Matthaiou) The female figure in the worship context of the Christian tradition. Towards a reform of the curriculum of the Religious Studies course. Contribution to gender studies.

Main Idea


Psalm 95 invites the reader to worship God, as provident Creator, with joyfulness, confident faith, and thanksgiving, and warns them to avoid the past mistake of ignoring his providence for them as the Israelites had done before.

Outline


1. A call to worship the Creator-King…Psalm 95:1-5
2. A call to worship the Covenantal God…Psalm 95:6-7c
3. A warning not to ignore God's providence…Psalm 95:7d-11

This thesis looks at developments in evangelical/Pentecostal contemporary Christian worship music (CWM) in response to its theological critiques and analyzes the effects they are having on what training worship leaders will need. CWM has grown into a global phenomenon that largely either disregards or is ignorant of its theological critics. The rapid rate of churches adopting CWM practices in their services has led to numerous universities creating post-secondary degrees in Worship Leadership focused specifically on modern expressions of worship. This thesis uses a convergent parallel mixed methods research model to analyze how worship practices are changing in key evangelical-turned-sacramental churches to determine the worship education needs of worship leaders in similar churches. The research results can be used by universities to adapt or create Worship Leadership degrees that properly equip students for careers in the current and future church job marketplace. Churches can use these findings to help them navigate similar transitions in their worship practices. This research showed that evangelical-sacramental churches still use contemporary and modern musical genres but also use traditional songs. The research shows that these churches require worship leaders to be proficient in modern and traditional music styles, historical worship practices, songwriting, and pastoral care.

This paper is the presentation of the results of the Euregio-Project "Hochalpine Archäologie in den Ötztaler Alpen). The archeological survey in this alpine region brought to the light many findings and sites from different ages, from the mesolithic until the medieval period, the documentation of the excavation of a late bronze age herder settlement on the Ulfaser Alm (Passeier valley in South Tyrol) and it includes many radiocarbon data.

How did humanity end up in today’s mess with the alarming climate change and a fanatical faith in Islamic sharia law returning to Afghanistan?

In this essay, I broadly outline how these expressions of human action are connected and why mankind, due to fatal mistakes during thousands of years, is now facing an unprecedented existential crisis that threatens not only all of humanity but all life on earth.

Thanks to the genome project, significant human traits can be traced back millions of years. Science is unequivocal about our close relationship with other primates, especially chimpanzees and bonobos. Once we gain insight into this genealogy, our understanding, handling, and ability to resolve troubling human destructive traits will be so much easier.

The essay begins with a historical retrospective on worships of gods and the origins of the oppression of women in the Neolithic age 10,000 years ago until about 2200 B.C., followed by discussing the significant hominins’ (primates) properties manifested in modern humans and the genealogy of war theology.

This paper is a translation and commentary of an excerpt taken from " A Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence " by Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan, Vol 1, pg 238 – 241. Selected excerpt summarises key fiqh considerations related to Salah during travel, including: 'what makes a person traveller from Shariah point of view', 'how to do taqseer (shortening of prayers)', 'combining prayers', 'combined prayer in Arafah' and other related matters. Explanation of important points in commentary has been based on works from renowned scholars. The scope of this paper does not cover all the matters of fiqh related Salah during travel (e.g. praying in aircraft, train, car etc.) as the key focus for this paper is shortening and combing of Salah in line with Quranic text and prophetic traditions.

RE: Facades, illusions & ideological concepts created & promoted by ancient royalty out of necessity; effective creation of an alternate version of reality. It is only by knowing this information that the true nature of ancient texts may be understood correctly. Not knowing, means making incorrect assumptions & conclusions. Important!

This King's College London dissertation (for MA in Contemporary Worship) aims to explore how Missional Church theology might impact the practice of Christian worship. In church many settings, the relationship between worship and mission remains unclear and often the two can appear to be in conflict, or the agenda for one can consume the other. Therefore it is important to understand how they ought to interrelate, and how this relationship might be worked out in practice.

The project begins by exploring an outline of missio Dei and Missional ecclesiology, making use of theological and missiological scholarship from the past century.  It then takes two practical approaches to Missional church worship and critiques them in the light of Missional theology, and each another.  The first example is termed "outside out", the model of mid-sized, Mission Shaped Communities.  This is contrasted with the "inside out" approach, where the locus of mission is the gathered liturgical assembly.

The central argument is that these two approaches represent poles which ought to be held together in tension.  Both models have validity and can learn from each other.  The former places the emphasis on mission, and the latter puts its focus on a form of gathered worship.  The project concludes that we must not collapse these two terms into one another, but rather hold them as distinctive and yet interdependent facets of the church’s calling.

Paper regarding the idea of "religious tolerance" as propaganda designed to just let religion continue to do harm to society and destroy lives. See my paper 'Religion Is Not Benign' in order to better understand this paper:
http://www.academia.edu/11700742/Religion_Is_Not_Benign

This paper considers how evangelical worship services ought to, but often do not, reflect our period in salvation history. This period is best described by the doctrine of “inaugurated eschatology”: a doctrine based on the biblical testimony, essential to our identity as evangelicals, but misunderstood in many of our churches’ gatherings. 

The paper begins by tracing the biblical data to highlight ways in which Scripture describes the kingdom of God’s current presence (the “already”) and future arrival (the “not yet”). It uses three lenses to articulate believers’ experience of the “already” and the “not yet”: affection, spatiality, and chronology.

Second, the paper traces inaugurated eschatology’s historical development to demonstrate the centrality the doctrine plays in our churches. Surveying the contributions of George Ladd, adherents of progressive dispensationalism, and Reformed thinkers, it demonstrates how the doctrine’s development became essential to the movement now known as evangelicalism. Namely, the articulation and joint endorsement of the doctrine of inaugurated eschatology created the shared paradigm that has enabled the wide level of cooperation that produced ventures such as the Gospel Coalition and the Evangelical Theological Society.

Third, drawing upon the work of Stephen Marini, the paper compares previous generations of American evangelical hymnody with the core repertory of Contemporary Worship Music (CWM). It finds that many historic hymns contain substantive reflections upon robust eschatological themes, whereas the most frequently used songs in CWM underrepresent elements of the “not yet.”

The paper concludes by arguing that evangelicals might consider current worship discussions (e.g., liturgical patterns, observing the church calendar, psalmody, lament, confession) from the perspective of inaugurated eschatology. It proposes practical ways that leaders of worship can better represent these themes as they plan services for the health and spiritual growth of their churches.

This is the first chapter of my thesis for the Master of Sacred Theology Degree out of Nashotah Theological Seminary.  The first section describes and analyzes THE PASCHAL LITURGY AND THE APOCALYPSE by Anglican theologian Massey Shepherd (1960) and THE LAMB'S SUPPER - THE MASS AS HEAVEN ON EARTH and journal article "Worship in the Word: Toward a Liturgical Hermeneutic" (2005) by Catholic theologian Scott Hahn (1999) as they address the stated thesis as contained in the title.

Esta primera carta es una respuesta de Pablo a los problemas que enfrentaba esta iglesia para poner en práctica los conceptos del evangelio que él les había enseñando. En esta investigación se ha encontrado que el pasaje de 1 Co 14:33-38 contiene una cita implícita de Pablo a una ley oral. Se ha revisado la ley a la que hace referencia Pablo y su forma de citar en forma implícita y explícita en la carta a los corintios. El problema de contradicción aparente en el argumento paulino sobre permitir primero a la mujer hablar en la Iglesia y negarlo después, se resuelve con un análisis de los marcadores discursivos y del contexto.  Esto ayuda a comprender qué situación estaba corrigiendo en realidad el apóstol en lugar de deducir que estaba enseñando contra el ministerio público de la mujer.

Abstract
The passage in 1 Co 14: 33b-35, which says that a woman keep silence in worship according to a law, it is in contradiction with what Paul stated earlier in the epistle when he instructed on the way in which order should be kept to prophesy in the church, for  men and women. As there is no record in the written Torah or Pentateuch of any law that commands a woman to keep silence and due to this concept has echoes in 1 Ti 2: 9-15, it is important to see the law to which Paul may have made reference. This helps to understand what situation the apostle was correcting instead of inferring that he was teaching against the public ministry of the woman. The problem of apparent contradiction in the Pauline argument is solved with an analysis of the discursive markers and the context of the passage.
Keywords: 1 Corinthians 14:33b-38 – Woman – Torah – Pauline letters – New Testament

Resumo
A passagem em 1 Coríntios 14: 33b-35, que diz que uma mulher mantém silêncio no serviço de acordo com uma lei, está em contradição com o que Paulo afirmou anteriormente na epístola quando instruiu sobre a maneira pela qual a ordem deve ser mantida na adorar a profetizar, homens e mulheres. Como não há registro na Torá escrita ou no Pentateuco de qualquer lei que ordene que uma mulher mantenha silêncio e, dado que esse conceito ecoa em 1 Tm 2: 9-15, é importante entender a que lei Paulo pode ter se referido. Isso ajuda a entender que situação o apóstolo estava realmente corrigindo em vez de inferir que ele estava ensinando contra o ministério público da mulher. O problema da aparente contradição no argumento paulino é resolvido com uma análise dos marcadores discursivos e do contexto.