Ottawa, Ontario
2021
To investigate how Christian worship and leisure influence each other in order to better understand the relationship between them, so that Christian worship may be enhanced, and the leisure of Christians can also be enriched.
Researcher(s): Paul Heintzman
Academic Discipline: Recreation and Leisure Studies
Project Summary
This project will explore, through a theological/biblical paper as well as qualitative and quantitative studies, the relationship between worship and leisure. Josef Pieper (1963) in his classic book "Leisure the Basis of Culture" wrote that "...leisure can only be made possible and justifiable on the same basis as the celebration of a festival. That basis is divine worship" (p. 56). This research, within the leisure studies field, will explore Pieper's assertion and investigate how leisure influences Christian worship and how Christian worship influences leisure. The goal is to understand the relationship between Christian worship and leisure so that Christian worship may be enhanced, and the leisure of Christians can also be enriched.
What questions have you asked about worship in the past year?
What is the relationship between worship and leisure?
Does worship positively influence leisure?
Does worship negatively influence leisure in any way?
Does leisure positively influence worship?
Does leisure negatively influence worship in any way
In what ways has or will your project strengthen the worship life of congregations?
Study findings might suggest ways that leisure time, activity or attitudes strengthen the worship life of congregations. Findings from the qualitative study suggest that leisure can facilitate worship. For example, here are quotations from two participants:
“Worship is connected to my leisure….leisure can help me worship. Worship can help me be, just in connection with God…I don’t think I have to do anything, I just have to be, I just have to know who God is and know who I am and just be…” (Participant B)
“...leisure is required for worship. I need to be in that space of mind where I'm not sitting down to do something to achieve, something purposeful, particularly don't work….my primary goal is to be in the presence of God. And to deepen the relationship with God. And in deepening the relationship with God deepening the relationship with myself and with other people” (Participant G).
What have been your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)?
- For the qualitative study, I was looking for a diversity of people (ages, ethnicities, denominations etc.) from across North America. Despite several scholars throughout North American assisting me with the recruitment process it took many tries to find people of specific ethnicities (e.g., African-American, Hispanic).
- Finding time to do the research at the same time as teaching and completing my other professorial duties.
What advice would you like to share with other Teacher-Scholars?
When I was conducting the qualitative interviews, the most common way that participants defined worship was as an attitude to life. Other definitions included corporate worship and personal worship. When I asked participants about the relationship between worship and leisure, most participants answered this question in relationship to worship as an attitude to life. If I was doing the interviews again I would ask more probing questions about how the participants saw the relationship between corporate worship and leisure.
What products will emerge from your project?
- Presentation Leisure & Worship-A Qualitative Study Academy of Leisure Sciences Online Conf. Mar 1-3 2022
- Presentation Biblical & Theological Reflections on Leisure & Worship Online Christian Leisure Scholars Gathering May 25 2022
- Online Presentation & Abstract Book Leisure & Worship-A Theological Exploration Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure & Sport Studies Conf. June 8-11 2022
- Poster Presentation Leisure & Worship-Theological & Qualitative Findings MidWest Faculty Conf. Cedarville MI
- Poster Presentation & Abstract Book: A Qualitative Exploration of Leisure & Worship National Recreation & Parks Association Conf. Sept 20-22 2022 Phoenix
- Abstract submitted A Theological Perspective on Worship & Leisure Evangelical Theological Society Conf. Nov 15-17 2022 Denver
- Quantitative Study Presentation, TBD
- 3 journal papers: theological, quantitative, quantitative