ABSTRACT
This chapter sets out some most frequently used arguments in favour of the use of contemporary language in liturgy. It outlines arguments in favour of the retention of 'thee' and 'thou', and adds some observations on how these pronouns were used in sixteenth-century literature. One of the most frequently expressed arguments in favour of the use of contemporary language for worship is expressed in terms of social change. The chapter focuses on two questions, both of which need to be addressed in relation to England and New Zealand. First, whether there is a recognizable set of shared cultural traditions which are transmitted and reinforced by members of contemporary society as a whole, or even by a large proportion of those who constitute that society. Secondly, the extent to which worshippers feels that the language of liturgy needs to be adjusted in order to reflect changes of culture.
