This thesis begins with the argument that television is a dominant influence on modern society. Television is, for example, a primary source of information and a dominant medium of entertainment. The most profound changes television has brought to modern culture, however, are more fundamental. The television age has engendered a new language and patterns of communication. The dilemma is how to communicate the gospel authentically from the Christian pulpit in a society where television dominates the patterns of communication. This thesis argues that preaching, in order to be heard today, must adopt the new language and communicative structures used by television. Old forms of deductive, conceptual preaching no longer encounter and involve an audience. The communicative tools of imagination, dialogue and experience must become central to an understanding of the preaching task. In addition, an awareness of the visual communications of body and face makes new demands of presentation. As well as changes in technique, fundamental reflection on the theology of communication and nature of preaching can take place in light of the media context. Television challenges more than simply the structures of preaching, and it offers more than a threat. Models for communication practice that reflect both the theological understanding of Christian communication and the desire to be effective are examined. There is, for example, clear ground for preferring Incarnational and Trinitarian models over older straight-line or monological models for Christian communication. By means of case study, interview and sermon content analysis an investigation was made into the role (perceived and actual, as far as it can be determined) of television in the lives of a small group of preachers and students. The opinions and attitudes members of the two groups have toward television were explored. In addition, for the preachers and preachers in training, the potential that television has for informing preaching practice in any way (content, structure or genre) was examined.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:663592 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Weber, Derek C. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/30901 |
Page generated in 0.0026 seconds