Shop Window, Flagship, Common Ground: Metaphor in Cathedral and Congregation Studies (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780334058410)

How are cathedrals and churches understood? Are they shop windows, through which to gaze at the riches on offer within the Christian life? Are they flagships of the Spirit? Are they both sacred spaces and community utilities? 'Shop-window, flagship, common ground' views the rich ministry and innovative mission of cathedrals through the novel lens of metaphor; and it offers comparative insights on cathedrals and cathedral-like churches. Located in the emerging international field of cathedral studies, the book explores the usage and inferences of a range of metaphors, including 'shop-windows of the Church of England', 'flagships of the Spirit', 'beacons of the Christian faith', 'magnets', and 'sacred space, common ground'. This volume also shows how such metaphors can stimulate different types of research about the function of cathedral and church buildings. With a Foreword by Professor Grace Davie, the book suggests that cathedrals and cathedral-like churches may play a role within 'vicarious religion' theory. It will provide a thought-provoking critique for practitioners and a valuable contribution for scholars of cathedral studies, congregational studies and ecclesiology.

Author: Judith A. Muskett
ISBN-10: 0334058414
ISBN-13: 9780334058410
Publisher: SCM Press
Language: English
Published: 11/30/2019
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.63d