Saving Comrade Stalin’s Soul (1949–1958)

2019 ◽  
pp. 187-211
Author(s):  
Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye
Keyword(s):  
Oral History ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
True Jesus Church ◽  
Oral History Interviews ◽  
Christian Leaders ◽  
Party State ◽  
Discursive Patterns

During the 1950s, the universal ideology of Chinese Christian churches such as the True Jesus Church clashed with the universal ideology of the Maoist party–state. Christian communities’ relative ideological autonomy hindered the party–state’s ambitions for control. Christians, especially Christian leaders, experienced intense pressure to adopt the new code of Maoist speech during this era. Documents from archives in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan and oral history interviews with members of the True Jesus Church in South China show how between 1949 and 1958, top church leaders bowed to this pressure, replacing biblical rhetoric and discursive patterns with Maoist rhetoric and discursive patterns. The contest between religious communities and the state to control the terms of public moral discourse demonstrates the significance of such discourse in demarcating and legitimating community authority.

Speaking in the Devil’s Tongue? The True Jesus Church’s Uneasy Rhetorical Accommodation to Maoism, 1948–1958

Modern China ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 652-682
Author(s):  
Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye
Keyword(s):  
Religious Communities ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Moral Communities ◽  
True Jesus Church ◽  
Oral History Interviews ◽  
Christian Leaders ◽  
The Church ◽  
Discursive Patterns

During the 1950s, the universal ideology of Chinese Christian churches clashed with the universal ideology of the Maoist party-state. Since Christian churches were autonomous moral communities (ideologically self-contained, with members collectively claiming authority to define and cultivate moral norms), they hindered the party-state’s ambitions for control. Christians, especially Christian leaders, experienced intense pressure to adopt the new code of Maoist speech. Documents from archives in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan and oral history interviews with members of the True Jesus Church in south China show how, despite the True Jesus Church’s native inclinations to resist, between 1948 and 1958 Maoist rhetoric and discursive patterns replaced biblical rhetoric and discursive patterns in the public life of the church. The contest between religious communities and the state to control the terms of public moral discourse demonstrates the significance of such discourse in demarcating and legitimating community authority.

scholarly journals Exploring the mediatization of organizational communication by religious communities in digital media

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (66) ◽  
pp. 101-121
Author(s):  
Gry Høngsmark Knudsen ◽  
Marie Vejrup Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Religious Identity ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Digital Spaces ◽  
The Way

This article presents an exploratory study of some of the ways in which religious communities communicate as organizations in digital spaces. Based on previous research, the article examines the extent to which processes of mediatization are visible in the digital spaces utilized by religious communities in Denmark today.The study is based on data from websites and Facebook groups from ten Christian churches: five ELCD (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark) parishes and five free churches. Data was collected using methods particularly designed for collecting digital data, with due consideration of the ethical implications of researching religious identity online. The data collection represents a follow-up study to the research project Religion in Aarhus 2013. Based on our findings, we suggest that mediatization processes progress more slowly in institutional religious communication because of the way in which they are organized. Furthermore, we demonstrate that there are some patterns in the way Christian communities express themselves online, and that these patterns to some extent depend on whether an ELCD parish or a free church is involved.

Broken Bodies of God: The Christian Eucharist as a Locus for Ecological Reflection

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Galbraith
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Slow Food ◽  
Ecological Awareness ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Christian Theologian ◽  
Ecosystem Changes

AbstractThe recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report attests to the reality of a warming global climate and describes potential ecosystem changes that may be devastating to communities—both human and non-human—across the globe. I contend that the Christian practice of sharing the Eucharist meal provides an opportune moment for Christians to engage in ecological reflection. To defend this claim I draw upon Christian theologian Sallie McFague's metaphorical understanding of the world as God's body in order to connect environmental plight to the Eucharist meal and to show why that plight should be a concern for Christian communities. Next, I turn to the work of anthropologist Claude Fischler in order to make a connection between sharing the Eucharist and communal and individual identity formation. Finally, I draw upon the Slow Food movement in order to provide specific suggestions for adapting the Eucharist to make it more conducive to ecological reflection. I also briefly discuss the growing green sisters movement and suggest that this movement provides a model of ecological-awareness and practice for other religious communities, and for North American Christian churches in particular.

The Church of the East Until the Eighth Century

2019 ◽  
pp. 429-450
Author(s):  
Stefan R. Hauser
Keyword(s):  
Eighth Century ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Church Of The East ◽  
Long Time ◽  
History Of ◽  
Material Evidence ◽  
Christian Population

For a long time, the development of Christian communities within the Sasanian and early Islamic Empires was either neglected or described in terms of a history of persecution and antagonism within a Zoroastrian or Islamic state. Only recently has the perception of the extent of Christianization, the interaction of religious communities, and the importance of Christians within these societies and their upper echelons changed dramatically. The narrative of permanent conflict and oppression of Christian faith has given way to the acknowledgment of a predominant Christian population in the territory of modern Iraq and western Iran in the fifth through seventh centuries. One argument in this context is the growing body of material evidence for Christian churches and images as well as burials, which are expressions of respected and self-assured Christian communities.

scholarly journals A GUIDE TO CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL FORMATION: HOW SCRIPTURE, SPIRIT, COMMUNITY, AND MISSION SHAPE OUR SOULS. BY EVAN B. HOWARD.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Novel Priyatna
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Formation ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Critical Stage ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Christian Leaders ◽  
Bahasa Indonesia

<p>Although interest in Christian spiritual formation among evangelicals, especially in Western society, has been at a critical stage, Howard stresses the importance of Christian spiritual formation. Christian spiritual formation helps individuals and Christian communities grow deeper in their relationship with the Triune God because in it the Holy Spirit, Scripture, community, and mission are interconnected with one another. Furthermore, without Christian spiritual formation, Christian institutions find it  difficult to perform their roles well. Therefore, this book challenges Christian leaders such as educators, pastors, spiritual directors, and other church leaders to become God’s instruments in transforming believers to have Christlike character in their lives.</p><p><strong>BAHASA INDONESIA ABSTRAK: </strong>Meskipun minat dalam formasi rohani Kristen di kalangan kaum Injili, khususnya di masyarakat Barat, telah berada pada tahap kritis, Howard menegaskan pentingnya formasi rohani Kristen. Formasi rohani Kristen membantu individu-individu dan komunitas-komunitas Kristen untuk bertumbuh lebih dalam terkait hubungan mereka dengan Allah Tritunggal karena didalamnya Roh Kudus, Alkitab, komunitas, dan misi saling berhubungan satu sama lain. Lebih jauh lagi, tanpa formasi rohani Kristen, lembaga-lembaga Kristen sulit melakukan perannya dengan baik. Oleh karena itu, buku ini menantang para pemimpin Kristen seperti pendidik, pendeta, direktur spiritual, dan pemimpin-pemimpin gereja lainnya untuk menjadi alat Tuhan dalam mengubah orang-orang Kristen agar dapat memiliki karakter seperti Kristus dalam kehidupan mereka.</p>

Mülteci olmak: Mersin’de yaşayan Filistinli mültecilerin göç hikâyeleri

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-224
Author(s):  
Bilge Deniz Çatak
Keyword(s):  
Oral History ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Palestinian Refugees ◽  
Emotional Bonds ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Oral History Interviews ◽  
Refugee Experience

Filistin tarihinde yaşanan 1948 ve 1967 savaşları, binlerce Filistinlinin başka ülkelere göç etmesine neden olmuştur. Günümüzde, dünya genelinde yaşayan Filistinli mülteci sayısının beş milyonu aştığı tahmin edilmektedir. Ülkelerine geri dönemeyen Filistinlilerin mültecilik deneyimleri uzun bir geçmişe sahiptir ve köklerinden koparılma duygusu ile iç içe geçmiştir. Mersin’de bulunan Filistinlilerin zorunlu olarak çıktıkları göç yollarında yaşadıklarının ve mülteci olarak günlük hayatta karşılaştıkları zorlukların Filistinli kimlikleri üzerindeki etkisi sözlü tarih yöntemi ile incelenmiştir. Farklı kuşaklardan sekiz Filistinli mülteci ile yapılan görüşmelerde, dünyanın farklı bölgelerinde mülteci olarak yaşama deneyiminin, Filistinlilerin ulusal bağlılıklarına zarar vermediği görülmüştür. Filistin, mültecilerin yaşamlarında gelenekler, değerler ve duygusal bağlar ile devam etmektedir. Mültecilerin Filistin’den ayrılırken yanlarına aldıkları anahtar, tapu ve toprak gibi nesnelerin saklanıyor olması, Filistin’e olan bağlılığın devam ettiğinin işaretlerinden biridir.ABSTRACT IN ENGLISHPalestinian refugees’ lives in MersinIn the history of Palestine, 1948 and 1967 wars have caused fleeing of thousands of Palestinians to other countries. At the present time, its estimated that the number of Palestinian refugees worldwide exceeds five million. The refugee experience of Palestinians who can not return their homeland has a long history and intertwine with feeling of deracination. Oral history interviews were conducted on the effects of the displacement and struggles of daily life as a refugee on the identity of Palestinians who have been living in Mersin (city of Turkey). After interviews were conducted with eight refugees from different generations concluded that being a refugee in the various parts of the world have not destroyed the national entity of the Palestinians. Palestine has preserved in refugees’ life with its traditions, its values, and its emotional bonds. Keeping keys, deeds and soil which they took with them when they departed from Palestine, proving their belonging to Palestine.

Nimíciwinán, nipimátisiwinán – “Our food is our way of life”: On-Reserve First Nation perspectives on community food security and sovereignty through oral history in Fisher River Cree Nation, Manitoba

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailesh Shukla ◽  
Jazmin Alfaro ◽  
Carol Cochrane ◽  
Cindy Garson ◽  
Gerald Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Oral History ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Community Food Security ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Indigenous Foods ◽  
Oral History Interviews

Food insecurity in Indigenous communities in Canada continue to gain increasing attention among scholars, community practitioners, and policy makers. Meanwhile, the role and importance of Indigenous foods, associated knowledges, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples (Council of Canadian Academies, 2014) that highlight community voices in food security still remain under-represented and under-studied in this discourse. University of Winnipeg (UW) researchers and Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN) representatives began an action research partnership to explore Indigenous knowledges associated with food cultivation, production, and consumption practices within the community since 2012. The participatory, place-based, and collaborative case study involved 17 oral history interviews with knowledge keepers of FRCN. The goal was to understand their perspectives of and challenges to community food security, and to explore the potential role of Indigenous food knowledges in meeting community food security needs. In particular, the role of land-based Indigenous foods in meeting community food security through restoration of health, cultural values, identity, and self-determination were emphasized by the knowledge keepers—a vision that supports Indigenous food sovereignty. The restorative potential of Indigenous food sovereignty in empowering individuals and communities is well-acknowledged. It can nurture sacred relationships and actions to renew and strengthen relationships to the community’s own Indigenous land-based foods, previously weakened by colonialism, globalization, and neoliberal policies.

Oral History und Narrative Theorie: Vom Erzählen lernen

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1-2018) ◽  
pp. 135-149
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Immler
Keyword(s):  
Oral History ◽  
Narrative Research ◽  
Theory Method ◽  
Oral History Interviews

Wachsende Oral History-Archive weltweit beherbergen abertausende von Interviews, zur Gewaltgeschichte des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts ebenso wie zur Sozialgeschichte verlorener wie gegenwärtiger Lebenswelten. Das digitale Zeitalter macht viele dieser Interviews öffentlich zugänglich. Doch welche Herausforderungen ergeben sich daraus für Wissenschaft und Lehre? Um diese Frage geht es in diesem Aufsatz. An der Universität für Humanistik in Utrecht unterrichte ich das Fach „Narrative Research and Oral History: Theory, Method and Practice“. In meinem Seminar sprechen Zeitzeugen und Zeitzeuginnen durch ihre Egodokumente zu den Studierenden. Der Kurs bringt Selbstzeugnisse, Oral History und narrative Theorie in einen Dialog und erschließt damit den Studierenden die narrative Dimension des menschlichen Daseins. Ich zeige, in welcher Weise narrative (Erzähl-)Theorien hilfreich sind, um Oral History-Interviews in ihrer Komplexität zu analysieren; um simplifizierte Identitätskonstruktionen oder Zuschreibungskategorien wie „Generation“ oder „Trauma“ kritisch zu reflektieren sowie Potentiale und Risiken in Narrativen zu verorten. Mit diesem Aufsatz möchte ich auch der Debatte über das „Re-Using“ von Oral History aus digitalisierten Datenbanken einen Impuls geben.

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