Rhetorical Invention and Religious Inquiry: New Perspectives

by Walter Jost (Editor), Walter Jost (Editor)

This exceptional collection of writings offers for the first time a discussion among leading thinkers about the points at which rhetoric and religion illuminate and challenge each other. The contributors to the volume are eminent theorists and critics in

425 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2000

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume veers pretty wildly from accessible, interesting pieces to chapters that are written with such an intensely specialist audience in mind that they're effectively useless outside of a very, very narrow audience. But for the few chapters that do this, the rest make up for it with intriguing ideas and well-written essays that tease out the relationships between rhetoric, religion, and invention at the core of both. I especially appreciated the depth of engagement with Kenneth Burke as a touchpoint that helped guide much of the discussion through familiar territory. Burke may not be everyone's favorite, but his familiarity to many in rhetorical studies is invaluable as a starting point from which to expand in lots of ways. As such, the book has some real value to it, even with some uneven and overly long chapters along the way.

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today's review will cover some points made by one Wayne C. Booth in his essay included in this volume, "K. Burke's Religious Rhetoric: 'God-Terms' and the Ontological Proof," not exactly an inviting title.

First off, let's get familiar with the term 'logologist.' It's Burke's term, not Booth's. What it implies is that there is a study of human language usage that is more profound than mere academic commentary. Here are some of the "Voices" the logologist is able to uncover through his investigations.

Voice One: someone who is constantly 'misunderstood' in his or her use of language.

Voice Two: the guilt ridden someone who makes his professional efforts the place of all anxiety.

Voice Three: the genuine and humble comedian of all his best efforts.

Voice Four: the old man lamenting the passing of the years and his work viewed retrospectively.

Voice Five: the voice that is always in harmony with the voices of others.

Voice Six: the voice which is suspiciously skeptical and engaged in conflict.

Voice Seven: the relentless scholar who is seeking the perfect system to account for the widest range of phenomena.