Abstract:
The adage lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi (or lex (con)vivendi) denotes causal
interrelationships between worship, belief and life. Simply one affects the others as
this adage forms the foundation of doctrine and/or a moral life. However, if there are
true causal relationships between “as we worship” (lex orandi), “so we believe” (lex
credendi), “so we live” (lex vivendi) then the adage can also be understood as: “as we
live” (lex vivendi), “so we believe” (lex credendi), “so we worship” (lex orandi). This leads
to the question: how does popular art and music in the lived experience (lex vivendi)
influence/affect belief and therefore worship? In terms of promoting acceptance in the
church this investigation begins by using two examples from popular music by Taylor
Swift and two examples from British rapper Stormzy with the supposition that the
artists intend to provoke a change in thinking that encourages an ethical acceptance
of difference across society. This article is from a paper that was presented at the 2021
Societas Liturgica Conference hosted by University of Notre Dame.
