Words: 100% Natural Manufactured Fakes? Guest Columnist Mark Williams, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric California State University, Sacramento I recently bought some frosted toaster pastries that were boldly described as “ORGANIC!” on the box. The same store was selling organic chocolate flavored syrup. Organic frosted toaster pastries? Organic chocolate flavored syrup? I’m pretty sure this means civilization is winding down. Nothing wrong with that. It’s …
C.S. Lewis and the Rhetoric of Glory
C.S. Lewis and the Rhetoric of Glory Brandon Knight, Ph.D. Asst. Professor of Communication William Carey University Have you ever felt disconnected? With the presidential election looming in the not-so-distant future, politics often places feelings of discontent on display; many Americans place their hopes in nominees who will possibly bring to fruition the expectations and dreams of many. Yet the …
Blind(ed) Faith
Blind(ed) Faith Guest Columnist Mark Williams, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric California State University, Sacramento A national politician recently touted his “great and unmatched wisdom” in a twitter expression. This seems as good a time as any to talk about blind faith. Blind faith is a cage-free confidence about my beliefs. Think of the cages as (what we used to call) …
Let’s Have a Conversation about The God Problem
Let’s Have a Conversation about The God Problem Mark Ward Sr., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Communication University of Houston-Victoria Fifteen years ago, Quentin Schultze spoke to the annual awards banquet of the Religious Communication Association. His address on “The ‘God-Problem’ in Communication Studies” was subsequently published in the Journal of Communication and Religion. The essay put the problem succinctly: If …
Compassionate Communication
Compassionate Communication Annalee R. Ward, Ph.D. University of Dubuque Annalee Ward, Professor of Communication, currently serves as the Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque. This Initiative promotes excellent moral character and lives of purpose. Passionate about interweaving faith, life, and learning, Annalee is grateful for the work of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network whose …
The Rhetoric of Place
The Rhetoric of Place Annalee R. Ward, Ph.D. University of Dubuque Annalee Ward, Professor of Communication, currently serves as the Director of the Wendt Character Initiative at the University of Dubuque. This Initiative promotes excellent moral character and lives of purpose. Passionate about interweaving faith, life, and learning, Annalee is grateful for the work of the Christianity and Communication Studies …
Politically Correct Morals; Morally Correct Politics
Politically Correct Morals; Morally Correct Politics Guest Columnist Mark Williams, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric California State University, Sacramento Frequently lost on Christians is the distinction between the moral and the sacred, between virtue and holiness. Take the recent remark by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel who asserted, “I go to church for my moral leadership,” noting, “You can be the nicest, …
What We Can Learn about Christian Communication from First Reformed
What We Can Learn about Christian Communication from First Reformed Guest Columnist Paul A. Creasman, Ph.D. Arizona Christian University The 2019 Academy Awards ceremony came and went with the usual amount of fanfare/controversy: The Academy couldn’t find a host, Spike Lee and President Trump traded barbs, Glenn Close still does not have an Oscar. Lost among the din of Twitter …
The Rhetoric of Lent
“The Rhetoric of Lent” (Cultural commentary and critique by CCSN Guest Columnist/Blogger, Mark Williams, California State Univ., Sacramento). This article, by Timothy O’Malley, in Church Life Journal stresses the ways we can, so to speak, misread the text of Lent. We do that by using the scripts and signs of this season as a springboard of self-expression or even self-discipline …
