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Inquiries into Rhetoric and Christian Tradition: A Conference

May 20-21, 2005
DePaul University Chicago, Illinois
Friday and Saturday, May 20-21, 2005
Sponsored by the Symposium on Rhetoric and Christian Tradition
Anne Ruggles Gere, Plenary Speaker
SIG: Rhetoric and Christian Tradition Session TSIG.27 on Thursday, March 17, 2005, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Recently, scholars in rhetoric and composition have begun to explore the relationships between spirituality and writing in general and, in particular, the relationship between Christianity and writing. The purpose of this Special Interest Group is to serve as a venue in which scholars interested in the intersections of rhetoric and Christian tradition can meet to hear reports on scholarly work on topics related to rhetoric and the Christian tradition.
At the SIG, attendees will choose to join one of the two roundtables. After introductions, those listed as presenters will present brief progress reports on their own research. Each report will be followed by a discussion lead by one of the discussion leaders.
Roundtable #1: Critical Thinking and Christian Tradition
The relationship of critical thinking and Christian tradition is complex. Historically, the Christian tradition has fostered the intellectual achievement of some of rhetoric's finest thinkers such as Augustine. But currently, many scholars presume critical thinking and Christian tradition to be antithetical. Presenters at this roundtable will report on their explorations into the fraught relationship between critical thinking and Christian tradition.
Presenters:
  • Jennifer Santos
    " Religious Plotlines and Critical Thinking"
  • Barbara Bird:
    "Inquiry and Christian Faith: Can the Two Become One?"
  • Judith Hebb:
    "Critical Thinking and Biblical Discernment"
  • David Brauer:
    "'Bad Faith' to Good Faith: The Fiduciary Element in Critical Thinking"
Roundtable #2: Rhetoric of Particular Christian Traditions
“Christian tradition” is enacted in myriad, specific Christian traditions. The research presented in this roundtable explores how particular Christian traditions have put rhetoric to work in particular ways. Research on particular Christian traditions offers Lyotardian “little narratives” that help us make sense of the relationship of rhetoric and Christian tradition.
Presenters:
  • Missy Nieveen Phegley:
    "The Truth According to Whom?"
  • Gary Layne Hatch:
    "Persuasion, Instruction, and the Holy Spirit in LDS Preaching"
  • Kristin Welch:
    "Women as Pentacostal Holiness Preachers"

The Conference on College Composition and Communication in New York City

March 19-22, 2003
SIG meeting "Exploring Rhetoric and Christian Tradition" (Session S2.26) on Friday, March 21, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. David Joliffe, Chair.
At this, the first meeting for this special interest group, you will meet other scholars who are interested in the intersections between rhetoric and Christian tradition and hear about the Rhetoric and Christian Tradition conference to be held at DePaul University, summer 2004. We'll also have 4 brief presentations and then open the session for disucssion:
  • Thomas Amorose, Seattle Pacific University:
    "Historical Connections"
  • Elizabeth Vander Lei, Calvin College:
    "Implications for Composition Pedagogy"
  • Beth Daniell, Clemson University:
    "Implications for Reading"
  • Anne Ruggles Gere, University of Michigan:
    "The Need for Language"
  • David Jolliffe, DePaul University:
    "The Public Sphere"