THE POLITICS OF LITURGY BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

J Rossouw

doi:10.18820/23099089/actat.v37i1s.5

Abstract

How can Catherine Pickstock’s statement that “Traditional communities governed by liturgical patterns are likely to be the only source of resistance to capitalist and bureaucratic norms today” be interpreted in contemporary South Africa in such a way that justice and recognition are upheld? I propose to answer this question in the following four steps. First, the notion of liturgy with reference to politics will be briefly discussed. Second, modernity as an ongoing liturgical disruption, in general, and more particularly in South Africa will be discussed. Third, South Africa as a country between tradition and modernity will be addressed. In conclusion, some proposals for the facilitation of a liturgical politics in modernity, in general, and in South Africa, in particular, will be made. These proposals will be concerned with a plea for the province, the contemplative church and the contemplative university.

Highlights

In this article,1 I would like to engage with the Radical Orthodox movement from within the South African post-apartheid context, with specific reference to what I call the politics of liturgy between tradition and modernity
I am of the view that many, if not most of the burning sociopolitical questions of post-apartheid South Africa can be traced back to the uneasy relationship between tradition and modernity that currently exists in the country
In addressing the nature of South African modernity, I shall attempt to clarify what I mean by these opening remarks

Summary

INTRODUCTION

I would like to engage with the Radical Orthodox movement from within the South African post-apartheid context, with specific reference to what I call the politics of liturgy between tradition and modernity. With this title, I hope that it is sufficiently clear from the outset that, when it comes to the question of tradition and modernity, I do. Some proposals for the facilitation of a liturgical politics in modernity, in general, and in South Africa, in particular, will be made. These proposals will be concerned with a plea for the province, the contemplative church and the contemplative university

LITURGY WITH REFERENCE TO POLITICS

MODERNITY AS AN ONGOING LITURGICAL DISRUPTION

SOUTH AFRICA BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY

PROPOSALS FOR A LITURGICAL POLITICS