Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is the largest Christian broadcasting entity in the world. Through its programming and global satellite outreach, TBN has grown and nurtured the pentecostal Faith movement. Affirming the divine right to wealth and health, the magical power of words, and the complete autonomy of its followers, the Faith movement is one of the fastest-growing religions in twenty-first century America. With roots in American popular religion going back to the eighteenth century, and with pentecostalism's founding in the early twentieth, independent Faith ministries today operate scores of immense megachurches in every part of the United States, and throughout the world. As the media arm and clearinghouse for the Faith movement, TBN integrates technology into its religious message and serves as a kind of 'electronic church' for the Faith faithful. In addition to the Faith message of prosperity, the Faith movement today is among the most racially integrated religions in the country, thanks to ongoing high-profile efforts to promote the creation and maintenance of multiracial congregations. Additionally, TBN advances its global political agenda in support of Israel, and against Muslims and Islam, through subtly encoded messages broadcast on its domestic and international television stations. Through primary source research and interviews with Faith leaders and practitioners, the Faith movement can be understood as a religion espousing a version of the 'American Dream' that promises wealth, health, abundance, and racial reconciliation to ambitious hard-working people of every race. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2011. / June 30, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references. / John Corrigan, Professor Directing Dissertation; Maxine Jones, University Representative; Amy Koehlinger, Committee Member; Amanda Porterfield, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_183620 |
| Contributors | Hladky, Kathleen (authoraut), Corrigan, John (professor directing dissertation), Jones, Maxine (university representative), Koehlinger, Amy (committee member), Porterfield, Amanda (committee member), Department of Religion (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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