International scholars explore sensory impact on worship

Nelson Cowan, director of Samford University’s Center for Worship and the Arts, participated in a weeklong Fellowship of Scholars at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. The gathering, themed ‘Liturgy and the Senses,’ brought together international liturgical scholars to examine how sensory experiences—including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—shape worship.

Cowan noted that many Protestant traditions often limit the worship experience to hearing and seeing, suggesting there is significant potential to engage a wider spectrum of human senses. The fellowship was held in memory of Nathan Chase, a scholar whose work focused on worship and the senses before his death from leukemia. Participants included representatives from institutions across North America, Europe, and Australia.