Tag: Hans van der Laan

Unique of its kind, this small philosophical book articulates a wide-ranging vision of the analogical relationships between the created forms of nature, the man-made forms of culture, and the forms used in religious ritual. Setting out from a precise definition of Christian worship, the author explores the genesis of ritual form. Born out of the need to complement the world of natural forms, cultural forms serve the complete human existence that is both physical, intellectual and social. Freed from any such purpose, cultural forms are condensed to their very essence and thus enabled to serve as liturgical signs. A final analogy transcends all visible forms, ushering the reading into an all-encompassing spiritual and mystical realm.