An enquiry into Advent and Lenten Cycles of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Eucharistic Collects
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Authors
Savage, Allan Maurice
Issue Date
1995-06
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Qualitative study , Phenomenology , Liturgy , Collects , Eucharistic prayer , Advent and Lent , Anglican/Roman Catholic worship , Existential interpretation , Scholastic understanding , Sitz-im-Leben , Life-world
Alternative Title
Abstract
There is dissatisfaction with the Collects when
scholastically (classically) understood. An alternative
phenomenological understanding is an engaging and artistic
philosophical enquiry. Phenomenological philosophical
enquiry engages the individual in meaningful interpretation
and construction of the life-world founded on a
non-dichotomous ontology. Phenomenological enquiry
(existential philosophy) interprets the present and relates
to the future such as is not possible in scholastic
(classical) philosophy.
The early twentieth century philosophers, Edmund Husserl and
Martin Heidegger, conceived a phenomenological method of
interpretation which innovatively placed the subject and
object in a dialectical union. Understanding the Collects
phenomenologically presents new insights susceptible to
consensus within a community. At present, the Collects are
structured on the principles of classical (dichotomous)
ontology. The Collects reflect the collective religious
meaning of the life-world and provide a vision upon which a
community may build. In phenomenological interpretation an
individual and a community, in the presence of that which is
divine, participate as co-creators of the life-world. Thus,
in contemporary western society phenomenological methodology
~ay be more helpful and therefore more desirable than
scholastic methodology for theological interpretation.
The hypothesis that phenomenological philosophy is more
helpful, thus more desirable, than scholastic philosopl1y
began as a hunch on my part. From a theological perspective,
I examined data obtained from a particular focus group.
Intelligent reflection, phenomenologically not classically
understood, is a working principle in this thesis.
Taking into account phenomenological methodology and conceptualising the problem as originally and scientifically as circumstances permit, I offer a resolution to the dissatisfaction with the Collects. I suggest replacing scholastic ontological understanding with the more helpful phenomenological ontological understanding in liturgical interpretation. This replacement-solution hypothesis is evidenced in this study minimally, but sufficiently, to conclude that such replacement is occurring in theological understanding. There are clear existential intimations of a shift from classical understanding to phenomenological understanding. The results of the survey show traditional understanding to be favoured, however. In the concluding remarks, I evaluate my findings and suggest what direction future studies may take.
Taking into account phenomenological methodology and conceptualising the problem as originally and scientifically as circumstances permit, I offer a resolution to the dissatisfaction with the Collects. I suggest replacing scholastic ontological understanding with the more helpful phenomenological ontological understanding in liturgical interpretation. This replacement-solution hypothesis is evidenced in this study minimally, but sufficiently, to conclude that such replacement is occurring in theological understanding. There are clear existential intimations of a shift from classical understanding to phenomenological understanding. The results of the survey show traditional understanding to be favoured, however. In the concluding remarks, I evaluate my findings and suggest what direction future studies may take.
Description
Citation
Savage, Allan Maurice (1995) An enquiry into Advent and Lenten Cycles of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Eucharistic Collects, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17669>