Tomorrow, Friday, at 2 pm I’ll present at ISSA. I enclose my updated abstract. Since it is Friday afternoon (2 pm, two hours before the big game), I will give a very practical presentation (and have a copy of my paper available).
“I have like a message from God” – The Rhetorical Situation and Persuasive Strategies in Revival Rhetoric with the Nokia Missio Church as a Test Case
Abstract
Based on an analysis of recordings of services during the first year (2008–2009) of the Nokia Missio Church, Finland, I analyse the verbal persuasion techniques that are used to affect the audience to change their beliefs and behaviour according to the standards of this evangelical and charismatic church. In these meetings, the rhetorical situation warrants special attention, which is achieved with the help of Lloyd Bitzer’s theory. The analysis shows how persuasive techniques are used to affect the audience in a specific way in the first part of a meeting, before the main sermon. Persuasive moves are analysed in the words of welcome, in praise and prayer, in testimonials, and in words to the audience – “divine speech”. All of these exhibit a variety of manipulative rhetorical techniques aimed at different groups among the attendees.
