Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

The contemporary turn to practices in systematic and philosophical theology has been extensively documented, yet the political dimensions of these practices remain relatively unexplored. This paper delves into the political nature of practices, recognising their inherent entwinement with the social and political fabric of societies. Focusing on internal barriers within Anglican practice, particularly regarding admission to the Eucharist, this paper serves as a test case. It argues that proponents of both radical inclusion (an ‘open table’) and restricted communion (a ‘closed table’) tend to conflate the act of reception with the entire liturgical action, telescoping the concept of total participation into a single part of the liturgy. This paper contends that understanding the political nature of the Eucharist redirects attention to the entirety of the eucharistic liturgy. It encourages a more holistic perspective that embraces the multifaceted symbolic and communal elements of the practice, rather than fixating solely on the act of reception.