Publisher's Synopsis
An important addition to the ongoing debate on the reconceptualization of Western Christianity's symbolic order, Michael Aune's analysis of the earlier works of Melanchthon, prominent lay theologian of the early Lutheran movement, provides valuable new insights on the specific historical meaning of the nature and purpose of ritual in Christian thought. The study reveals the significance of Melanchthon's rhetorical outlook for current discussions on the role of ritual in the formation of subjective and cultural identity. Aune analyzes the expression 'to move the heart' and shows how it can illuminate present concerns on ritual, particularly current interest in ritual as a cultural practice, as an ordering of redemptive power, and as an activity that articulates what it means to be a particular kind of person. Aune's reconsideration of Melanchthon's earlier thought will be of particular interest to theologians and scholars specializing in liturgical or ritual studies as well as Reformation studies.
