Abstract
What is the relation between ethical discernment and liturgy? Do Christian rituals provide enough space for ethical thinking? What is the nature of the certainty that discernment in ritual is correct? This study explores these questions in the context of the recent debate on the relationship between liturgy and ethics. It proceeds in five steps. Firstly, it briefly outlines the question of the foundation of Christian ethics with the help of the theology of Karl Barth. Secondly, it presents the joint task of ethics and liturgy, which teach us to see the world sub specie Christi. Thirdly, following Gordon Lathrop, it treats the problem of ritual constructing false worldviews: the hierarchical distortion, the distortion of the closed circle, and spiritual consumerism. In the next part, it explores how different ritual strategies open the space for actual ethical thinking in liturgy. The last part focuses on the role of biblical narrative, images, and symbols that represent the crucial source of the discerning worldview. The concluding reflection returns to the opening questions arguing that our discernment must be always aware of its particularity and perspective. The unbroken certainty of seeing can only be placed on the eschatological horizon.
Highlights
What is the relation between ethical discernment and liturgy? Do Christian rituals provide enough space for ethical thinking? What is the nature of the certainty that discernment in ritual is correct? This study explores these questions in the context of the recent debate on the relationship between liturgy and ethics
Following Gordon Lathrop, it treats the problem of ritual constructing false worldviews: the hierarchical distortion, the distortion of the closed circle, and spiritual consumerism. It explores how different ritual strategies open the space for actual ethical thinking in liturgy
He approaches the ritual as the performance of the good: ‘Ritual’s regular repetition has an initiatory effect of the greatest importance. [...] it implants the values of the group into the body of each member.’[3]. The American Lutheran liturgical theologian Frank Senn deals with the formative function of Christian rituals
Summary
Mark Searle, ‘The Liturgy and Social Ethics. Bjorlin, ‘Worship and Ethics: A Selected Bibliography,’ Studia Liturgica 43 (2013): 169–188. Take into account that the ethical reflection should be discerned from moral action. According to the German theologian Dietmar Mieth, ‘the ethics reflects the acting in respect to the distinguishing between good and evil as well as correct and incorrect’.11. I try to keep the differentiation between the level of theory and level of practice and focus on the first one.[12] the level of motivations does not guarantee that the action will be good and well-reasoned. I return to the opening question and argue that our discernment must always be aware of its substantial particularity and perspective
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