This post links to the contents of June 2018 seminar, “Enchanted Worship: Sacramental Ontology and Christian Liturgy,” given at the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

In this presentation I turn to several church fathers' readings of the Beatitudes, looking for their assistance—not so as to re-enchant the world, but to re-enchant our own identities.  Insisting on biblical exegesis that is mystical in orientation (‘mountainous reading’), open to a variety of readings (‘multiplicity of meaning’), and inviting us into the very life of God (‘moral virtue’), the church fathers teach us how it is that through participation in God's happiness we ourselves are re-enchanted so as to live in harmony with an enchanted world.

After 500 years, can we re-evaluate—perhaps even put behind us—the disunity that the Reformation caused?  This lecture takes a look “behind the scenes” and argues that a sacramental approach to reality can unite Catholics and Protestants in their struggle against the secularity of modernity.

Dr. Boersma responds to questions from Ken Myers of Mars Hill Audio Journal. This is part of Mars Hill's 135th volume. To learn more about the Mars Hill Audio Journal, please visit https://marshillaudio.org/ or find the podcast at mhadigital.org. 

Dean Timothy George speaks with Dr. Boersma about Nouvelle Théologie and sacramental preaching.