Master of Arts / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / Lisa Melander / This study examines the lived experiences of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, a small church based in Topeka, KS and known for engaging in extensive protesting, from the perspective of stigmatization and the subcultural identity theory of religious persistence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the congregation, exploring issues of how they perceive themselves to exist in relation to broader American society. A qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed three main themes: religion as a guiding framework, members’ relationships with others, and stigma and stigma management. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church see the world through a core Biblical framework of understanding that influences both how they relate to and disengage from interactions with others and the ways in which they negotiate stigma in these interactions. This research contributes to the body of research on stigma and stigma management as well as adds theoretically to the subcultural identity theory of religion.

Lin, Tat Kit. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-221). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / List of Tables and Illustrations --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Significance and Goals --- p.2 / Fieldsite Specification --- p.10 / Literature Review --- p.14 / Theories of Ethnicity / Religion and Ethnicity / Ethnic Studies in Hong Kong / Christianity and Ethnicity in Hong Kong / Christian and other Religious Studies in Hong Kong / Theoretical Orientation --- p.25 / Interpretive Approach / Constructivist Approach / Research Methods --- p.29 / Personal Interviews / Informal Interviews with Church Members / Participant Observation / Review of Church Publications / Structure of the Thesis --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- "The Chaoshan Region, Chaozhou Immigrants, Swatow Baptists and the Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong" --- p.37 / An Overview of the Chaoshan Region --- p.39 / Chaozhou Immigrants and the Teochiu in Hong Kong --- p.42 / The Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong --- p.51 / Baptist Missionary Work in Hong Kong and the Chaoshan Region --- p.54 / Early Baptist Missionary Work in Hong Kong / Baptist Missionary Work in Shantou and Hong Kong / A Brief History of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.62 / Summary --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Expressions of Chaozhou Identity in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.69 / The Label --- p.70 / The External Features of Ethnic Identity --- p.73 / The Use of Chaozhou Language / Objects and Activities Linked to Chaozhou Origin / The Transformed Expressions of the Traditional Chaozhou Identity / Subtle Group Boundaries in Church Structure / Subtle Group Boundaries in the Wider Baptist Circle / The Subjective Experience of Church Members --- p.97 / The Spirit of Ethnic Solidarity in the Church / The Affirmation of Chaozhou Identity / Summary --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Reasons for Insisting on Chaozhou Language and Chaozhou Identity --- p.117 / Explanations Proposed by Church Members --- p.118 / "Explanation One---""Most people in this Church are Chaozhou; so of course we keep our Chaozhou identity """ / "Explanation Two----“We need to protect our Tradition """ / Explanation Three---“This is a practical way to absorb Chaozhou Christians and Chaozhou non-believers´ح / Explanation Four---“We need to take care of the aged Chaozhou members ´ة´ة / Explanation Five---“It's can opportunity to learn a language ´ة´ة / Psychocultural Interpretation --- p.132 / Psychocultural Explanation---“´ةm afraid of losing my Chaozhou identity´ح / Summary --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Church Mechanisms Reinforcing Ethnicity --- p.149 / Mechanisms of Naturalization --- p.150 / Religious Meeting as Co-Ethnic Member Meeting / Attendance Numbers of the Morning Service / Annual Celebration Dinner / Mechanisms of Persuasion --- p.160 / Chaozhou Identity Contested / Chaozhou Identity Reinforced / Summary --- p.181 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion: The Role of Religion in Maintaining Ethnicity --- p.185 / Preserving Ethnicity in a Church Setting: Religion Helps --- p.186 / Maintaining Ethnicity under Disadvantageous Social Condition: Religion Stimulates --- p.196 / Insisting on Ethnicity without Flexibility: Religion Stunted --- p.201 / Bibliography --- p.208

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-157).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-172).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 242-256)

Applied research project (D. Min.)--School of Theology and Missions, Oral Roberts University, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-141).

Thesis (D.Ed.Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-134).

Thesis (D.Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-138).

Project (D. Ed. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-140).

Project (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-161, 50-54).