Angry listening and a listening God

Liturgical-theological reflections

Authors

  • Cas Wepener US, praktiese teologie & missiologye
  • Dr Suzanne van der Merwe US, praktiese teologie & missiologie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2021.v7n1.a32

Abstract

The potential value of the bodily expression of anger and lament has been explored in literature, also the value and need for rituals and liturgies of anger and lament. One aspect of angry liturgy that has not yet received much attention is the spiritual practice of listening to anger and lament. This article explores listening to anger in the liturgy as a faith practice. It is argued that embodied liturgical expressions of anger should more readily be accompanied by angry listening. The theological premise of the argument is the God of the Christian liturgy is not only the God who speaks but, also and importantly, the God who listens, and that this listening (to anger) extends to both God and those encountering God in liturgy in a theonomic reciprocal way.

Author Biography

Dr Suzanne van der Merwe, US, praktiese teologie & missiologie

Dr Suzanne van der Merwe, Research Associate, Department of Practical Theology & Missiology, Faculty of theology, Stellenbosch University

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Published

2022-01-17

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2021): Stellenbosch Theological Journal

Section

General Articles (articles from all theological disciplines)

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Cas Wepener, Dr Suzanne van der Merwe

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