History of Christian Worship
Prerequisite: None
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a historical and theological survey of Christian worship, beginning with the Jewish antecedents to the divine liturgy, including synagogal worship, temple worship, and Jewish prayer forms. Patristic developments of the eucharist rite are traced in the eastern and western traditions. The concept of eucharistic sacrifice is examined, giving special attention to the Medieval development of the Roman sacrifice of the Mass. The course explores Luther’s reformation of the Mass, and the distinctive characteristics of Lutheran sacramentology. The course concludes with an examination of various Lutheran resources and practices today.