Ritual and Christian Worship

What exactly is "ritual" and why is it inherently a part of Christian public worship? Could we worship without ritual? Does the Christian tradition offer us any perspectives on ritual? These are the questions explored in this book, whose purpose is to serve as a "user's guide" to ritual for leaders and planners of Christian worship. With the help of various perspectives--the life sciences, the Bible, and Reformation theologians--it seeks to explain ritual objectively, winsomely, and sympathetically. Written by a scholar with many years of experience in teaching liturgics, this book will help readers to appreciate ritual and become comfortable with themselves as participants in ritual.