Liturgiese identiteitsvorming as antwoord op die invloed van die verbruikerskultuur

Abstract

The formation of liturgical identity in response to the influence of a consumer culture

Liturgy in South Africa is continually interacting with the Western cultural heritage on the one hand, and increasingly with African culture on the other hand. However, another powerful influence on the local liturgy springs from the so-called global consumer culture. A few characteristics of the latter are inter alia the following: The emphasis on what the “buyer”, the worshipper and “potential” worshipper prefer; a show business attitude resulting in transforming members of the congregation into spectators rather than participants. Furthermore the emphasis is on the pursuit of effectiveness and the utilisation of technology to attain it and the focus is specifically on the needs of the individual and not on those of the community. The continual formation of liturgical identity is the answer to the mainly detrimental cultural processes currently manifesting themselves. The point of departure in forming a cultural identity implies an in-depth study of the liturgical guidelines indicated in the Old and the New Testament and the historical development of liturgy, especially in the second, sixteenth and twentieth centuries. The following aspects should, however, also be taken into consideration: the contemporary characteristics of the local indigenous culture, beauty of God, relationship between liturgy and culture, multi-cultural enrichment of liturgy, missionary aim and eschatological focus of liturgy.