Sociology of the Liturgy in Postmodernity: Ritual Attunement and Dis-Attunement at Sunday Mass

Abstract

One of postmodernity's hallmarks—the orientation toward greater individualism—has negatively affected the Catholic liturgy. Observations of Sunday liturgies identify liturgical actions that we describe as ritual attunements and dis-attunements. Dis-attunement occurs when a liturgical action causes the worshiper to be self-reflexive, to delve more deeply into the self—a postmodern characteristic. Attunement is evident when aspects of the liturgy orient the worshiper outward toward greater communal participation—uncharacteristic of postmodernity. This paper is a sociological examination of the liturgy in a postmodern context, and makes the argument that the liturgy can provide an antidote to postmodern individualism if the liturgical ritual remains intact, enhancing attuning and obfuscating dis-attuning elements.