Date of Award
11-20-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Rhetoric and Writing
First Advisor
Earnest Cox
Abstract
The term “in Christ” is widely recognized within the Christian Church as a signature term of the Apostle Paul. But while the term is recognized as fundamental to his theology, occurring 180 times specifically and 300 times generally, functional usage is minimal. However, when the origin of the term is seen in its original context of the Damascus Road Event Encounter, the unique mystical nature of the term begins to come into focus. At that event the Messiah introduces Paul to a concept that much later (twentieth century) Kenneth Burke labels “identification,” who explains at length identification’s operational dynamics. My research into Burke’s notion of identification in relationship to Paul’s writings might help to better explain how mystical faith was introduced to the Church, a rhetorically grounded faith that makes the Church’s spiritual formation more dynamic, as well as offering a more adaptable faith to the Post-Modern culture.
Recommended Citation
Elkins, William S., "Kenneth Burke Meets the Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus: Mysticism Through Rhetorical Identification" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 648.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/648
