Theology in Practice15 Sensing Worship

Sensing Worship explores how worship feels in white, mainline Protestant churches, using practical theology, affect theory, and emotion studies to show that embodied, social, and non-representational elements are vital sources of knowledge that can inform worship practice. Sensing Worship delves into the sensory experience of worship in white, mainline Protestant churches, exploring the often intangible “energy” that shapes how worship feels. Drawing on affect theory, emotion studies, and practical theology, the book uncovers the embodied, social, and non-representational dimensions of worship that influence individuals’ engagement with liturgy. Through storytelling and analysis, the author investigates how these elements circulate among worshippers, offering new insights into how the atmosphere of worship can be both shaped and harnessed. Sensing Worship presents a fresh perspective on the connections between feeling, practice, and theology in contemporary worship.