Homiletical aesthetics: A paradigmatic proposal for a holistic experience of preaching. Issue 4 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Sunggu
• Is Part Of: Theology today. Volume 73:Issue 4(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 364
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: homiletic -- preaching -- pedagogy -- aesthetics -- performativity -- mysterium; Theology -- Periodicals; Calvinism -- Periodicals; Théologie -- Périodiques; Calvinisme -- Périodiques; 230.005
• DOI: 10.1177/0040573616669563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-5736

Abstract

The article is a proposal for a paradigmatic change in homiletical pedagogy. In North America today, most homiletical training at the seminary or divinity school is either text-driven or know-how-driven (or, at times, topic-driven). Thus, the homiletical training focuses on (1) how to exposit a text for a key topic, (2) how to structure a sermon, (3) how to deliver a message, and (4) how to analyze the text-driven sermon. While admitting the usefulness of this current textual or know-how pedagogy, the article suggests the addition of a holistic-aesthetic component of preaching, which I will later call numen -participatory education or a numinous pedagogy of preaching. This proposed pedagogical paradigm has two great advantages that the ecclesial situation today demands: (1) the spiritual formation of the preacher and (2) the holistic-aesthetic and multisensory exposition and experience of the text both by the preacher and the audience.