Proclaiming Holy Scriptures: A Study of Place and Ritual

This book explores the proclamation of Holy Scriptures as an enacted celebration and its function as a performance within sacralized theatrical spaces. It provides an overview of scripture reading in the three Abrahamic faiths and focuses on the Christian tradition, offering an architectural analysis and interpretation of the various uses and symbols related to these spaces. It also considers the contemporary impact of a rich history of publicly reading out scriptures and will be of interest to scholars of liturgical theology, religious studies, and ritual studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the profound significance of the proclamation of Holy Scriptures as an enacted celebration, as well as its role as a captivating performance within sacred theatrical spaces. Scripture holds a central place in the religious lives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, where the reading of texts from designated places is revered as a sacred act. By examining the manner in which these readings are conducted, this study sheds light on crucial aspects of this widespread worship tradition.

Contributing to an understudied field of scholarship, the book provides a comprehensive overview of scripture reading across the three Abrahamic faiths, before delving into the unique presentation of the "Word of God" within the Christian tradition. It gathers and summarizes extensive research on the origins of a designated space for the proclamation of holy writings, offering a thorough architectural analysis and interpretation of the various uses and symbols associated with these spaces throughout history.

Furthermore, the book considers the listener through a phenomenological description of the place for reading and its hermeneutical interpretation. The material within this book unveils the enduring impact of a rich history of publicly reading out scriptures, making it of immense interest to scholars of liturgical theology, religious studies, and ritual studies.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367691332