In this thesis I investigate contemporary education theory as a way of understanding formative influences in the development of Christian preachers. I suggest that concepts of communities of practice and legitimate peripheral participation, along with recognition of role models and mentors, have a part to play in the life-long project that is learning to preach. In my Introduction I consider a definition of preaching for the purpose of the research and some historical approaches to developing preachers. I examine in Chapter 2 adult learning principles and cognitively-oriented concepts, such as learning styles and the theory of multiple intelligences. In Chapters 3 and 4 social learning theories that I examine include imitation, the effect of role models, and the influence of the mentor or the coach. Further, I ask to what extent the development of the preacher, as in many other professions with agreed standards of competency, does and should take place within communities of practice where legitimate peripheral participation (as developed in the work of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger) marks the developing preacher‘s sense of his or her own learning trajectory. After a fifth chapter on methodologies, these concepts are tested in three field studies that use a range of sociological research methods. I conduct in Chapter 6 quantitative analysis of questionnaires returned by Church of Scotland ministers, in Chapter 7 qualitative analysis of the published testimony of fifteen experienced preachers, and in Chapter 8 qualitative analysis of interviews with twelve young Methodist preachers. In my conclusion I develop a theologically nuanced version of Lave and Wenger‘s concept which I term a community of agreed sermonic enterprise. Principal practical recommendations deriving from this centre on creating supportive networks of reflective preaching practitioners, enhancing the provision of mentor-mentee relationships, and educating congregations for their role in shaping preachers.

Thesis advisor: Stephen Brown / Although hagiography and sermons from the Middle Ages are abundant, little research exists that explores the relationship between these two genres. Jacobus de Voragine compiled the most renowned medieval collection of hagiography, Legenda aurea (Golden Legend). He also compiled several volumes of model sermons, including a volume on the saints, sermones de sanctis. This dissertation examines four saints who appear in both of these works: Mary Magdalene, Benedict, Nicholas and Peter Martyr. By writing his hagiography and sermons, Jacobus attempted to guide Christians toward lives of virtue and ultimate union with God. In particular, Jacobus relied on tropological and anagogical reading of Scriptures in order to communicate how Christians should behave and what they should anticipate in eternity. In his work on two of these saints, Mary Magdalene and Benedict, Jacobus relied on the framework of spiritual ascent to God described by Pseudo-Dionysius. In particular, Jacobus focused on the first stage of ascent, the purgative. A link between the hagiography and sermons sometimes can be found in the etymological introductions in the Golden Legend. In the sermons on Mary Magdalene and Peter Martyr, Jacobus follows the virtues found in the etymology in the hagiography, while for Nicholas and Benedict, the correspondence is not as faithful. Nevertheless, throughout his sermons on the saints, Jacobus refers to episodes described more fully in the Golden Legend. Jacobus intended preachers to use stories from the Golden Legend to punctuate and illustrate the more theological content presented in the model sermons. If Jacobus's work is indicative of larger trends in medieval preaching, preachers expected to utilize hagiographical resources in order to urge their listeners to the virtuous life and an eschatological union with God. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta tese analisa as moralidades vicentinas a partir dos preceitos retóricos presentes na Arte Retórica de Aristóteles e na retórica latina a fim de observar possíveis pontos de identificação das moralidades com os sermões medievais. Para tanto, investiga como a retórica influenciou os diversos tratados de prédica que orientaram a produção de sermões no período. O conhecimento das técnicas retóricas, seja em sua formulação antiga, ou em suas atualizações, mostra-se um importante meio de interpretação não só das estratégias persuasivas das moralidades, como também na compreensão do sentido mais profundo do texto. O corpus vicentino de interesse para esta investigação foi delimitado e organizado a partir da distinção dos discursos epidíticos, deliberativo e judiciário no que concerne à identificação dos valores e argumentos predominantes nos autos analisados, quais sejam: a exaltação das virtudes e da Virgem nos autos da Fé e da Mofina Mendes e as vantagens dos discursos que visam à deliberação nos autos da Alma e da Feira, além da construção argumentativa no diálogo das personagens que acusam/defendem nos autos da Barca do Inferno e Purgatório / This thesis analyzes the vincentian moralities from rhetoric precepts found in Aristotle's The Art of Rhetoric and latin rhetoric in order to observe possible points of identification of morality with medieval sermons. Therefore, investigates how the rhetoric influenced the various treaties that guided the production of preaching sermons in the period. Knowledge of rhetorical techniques, whether in its old formulation, or their updates, shows an important means of interpretation not only of persuasive strategies of morals, but also in understanding the deeper meaning of the text. The vincentian corpus of interest for this research was delimited and organized from the distinction of epideictic, deliberative and judicial speeches concerning the identification of values and arguments prevalent in the autos analyzed, namely: the exaltation of the virtues and the Virgin in the autos of Fé and Mofina Mendes, and the advantages of speeches aimed at deliberation in the autos of Alma and Feira, as well as argumentative construction in the dialogue of the characters who accuse/argue in the autos of Barca do Inferno and Purgatório

During the depression era, millions of Americans listened to the weekly radio addresses given by Father Charles Edward Coughlin. He devoted his career to speaking out against the evils of America and felt it his duty to warn Americans against the perpetrators of this evil. But after 1934, the tone of his messages became anti-Semitic and his following decreased. His hatred of Jews escalated and in 1942, he was permanently removed from the air waves. A literature review will examine the nature of American anti-Semitism up to 1934 through literature, periodicals and newspapers. The literature review will also identify the key anti-Semitic terminology that Father Coughlin used in his sermons. The analysis and interpretation will show how stylistic tokens of anti-Semitic rhetoric pervaded Father Coughlin's sermons from the beginning of his career, which led to his downfall as a demagogic orator. / Graduation date: 1994

Thesis (M.A.(Teologie)--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-108)

Thèse de doctorat : Histoire : Lyon 2 : 2001. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Histoire : Lyon 2 : 2003. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-187).

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