God Talk

A well-crafted digest of thought-provoking essays that address seminal God-human communication questions and problems. Each chapter evidences careful scholarship from highly respected scholars. Whether your interests include communication theory, rhetorical criticism, ethnography, or theology, regardless of your faith tradition-or absence of a faith tradition-it is a stimulating read. I highly recommend it. -Steven A. Beebe, Ph.D., Regents' and University, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Texas State University; Past President, National Communication Association The intelligence of this exceptional book is a perfect ten. The theoretical depth of every chapter reflects research brilliance. The authors' clarity with ideas, ancient and contemporary, is knowledge production at its substantive best. This book's erudite scholarship demonstrates that divine-human discourse is of profound significance for communication studies across the globe. -Clifford G. Christians, Ph.D., Research Professor of Communications Emeritus, University of Illinois This important work gathers diverse voices to further a much-needed research agenda in religious communication. Contributors demonstrate not only the relevance of religious communication in multiple contexts, but also challenge us to consider how it can build bridges inside and outside the Academy. Works like this provide hope that a sustained scholarly agenda in religious communication can help address some of our most urgent and consistent societal needs. -Robert H. Woods Jr., J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director, Christianity and Communication Studies Network A much-needed contribution to the growing body of research at the intersection of communication and religion, this scholarly volume gathers work from established and emerging scholars to address a long-standing issue in the field of religious communication: the conundrum of divine-human communication. These scholarly essays, representing a variety of methodological perspectives, are both theoretically rich and accessible and offer heuristic insights for continuing the conversation in this key area. -Janie M. H. Fritz, Ph.D., Duquesne University; Executive Director, Religious Communication Association When I was invited to endorse God Talk: The Problem of Divine-Human Communication, I was very excited and anticipated a body of work that further solidifies the importance of a marginalized area of communication scholarship. It did not disappoint! The collection of critiques advances a powerful question that must be asked if we are to gain a broader and deeper understanding of humanity. The phenomenon of Divine-human communication (DHC) is framed as an area of scholarship replete with heurism, not limiting itself to Judeo-Christian belief systems. Instead, the authors individually and collectively address the ideological diversity in existent DHC and the robust research that has yet to be explored in the discipline. The chapters beautifully tie together and articulate the necessity of theistic communication research, stressing the intersectional identities of theist-scholars in their study of phenomena where religious ideologies are activated. As a religious communication scholar who also identifies as a theist-scholar, I found every chapter empowering, as they encourage the field to reconsider its positionality towards an area of scholarship that attempts to 'measure the immeasurable.' God Talk debunks the broad misconception that theist-scholars are attempting to advance a religious campaign of indoctrination. Moreover, the book provides a very strong foundation upon which others can stand as they interrogate communication phenomena where one's religious identity and relationship and communication with God/Creator/Higher Power are intertwined in theoretical yet practical ways. Upon reading each chapter, I was further convinced of the necessity and continued relevance of theistic communication studies. It is not a monolith but a swath of religious ideological diversity that is beyond worthy of further exploration. This book is a must! -Tina M. Harris, Ph.D., Professor, Endowed Chair of Race, Media, and Cultural Literacy, Louisiana State University God Talk: The Problem of Divine-Human Communication is a timely contribution to religious communication and communication studies. The authors examine the absence of God in communication theory and in engagement with others. Alasdair MacIntyre, the premier ethicist of our time, warned of the epidemic of emotivism: decision-making by personal preference, no longer tempered or guided by an external standard. This volume takes on MacIntyre's warning and asks: What happens when the external standard of God fades from relevance, leaving us with the emotive demands of individual communicators? I highly recommend this relevant work. -Ronald C. Arnett, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Duquesne University; Author of Communication Ethics and Tenacious Hope: Contemporary Implications of the Scottish Enlightenment