I
am thankful for the opportunity to guest edit this edition of the
Memphis Theological Seminary Journal for two reasons. First, it begins
our journey as an online journal. Previously, we have published the
journal as a print journal, but starting with this issue, we will only
publish the journal online. However, the second reason I am thankful for
the opportunity is that this is our Rhetoric and Religion issue. From
political candidates drawing upon religious language and themes, to
Nicki Manaj’s performance of an exorcism and pseudo-crucifixion at the
2012 Grammy Awards, it seems as if religion and religious discourse is
front and center in our public consciousnesses. With this issue of the
journal, we suggest that an examination of the rhetorical—as it relates
to religious language, performances and discourses—could prove
beneficial and fruitful in understanding how rhetoric and religion works
in the public arena. Andre E. Johnson |
Vol. 50 >