Written Communication Oct 2015

Taking Up Faith

Catherine Matthews Pavia Brigham Young University

Abstract

Greater attention to methods and methodologies when studying writing in religious contexts is needed to help researchers navigate ethical issues specific to faith communities and religious practices; to improve knowledge regarding the relationships among writing, religion, and faith; and to encourage respect for religious and nonreligious beliefs. To that end, I present findings from a study based on interviews of 14 scholars who have published results from their empirical studies on writing and religion or faith. Specifically, interview data show, first, researchers’ religious positionalities acting as terministic screens and promoting identification with participants, and, second, researchers’ efforts to fairly represent participants’ beliefs and the methods they use to do so. The article also offers a heuristic, based on findings from the interviews, for maintaining a reflective position when conducting research on writing and religious contexts.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2015-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088315601645
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Williams et al. (2026)
    Rhetoric and Affect: The Role of Faith in Student Writers’ Wayfinding
    Written Communication
  2. Kurtyka (2021)
    Standing at the Threshold: Metonymic Generalization and the Social Penalties of…
    College English
  3. Cope (2020)
    Compartmentalizing Faith: How Three First-Semester Undergraduates Manage Evange…
    Research in the Teaching of English

Cites in this index (15)

  1. Muhammad (2015)
    Iqra
    Written Communication
  2. Juzwik et al. (2015)
    Writing, Religious Faith, and Rooted Cosmopolitan Dialogue
    Written Communication
  3. Noy (2015)
    Writing in Museums
    Written Communication
  4. Pogue (2015)
    Finding the Written in Unexpected Places
    Written Communication
  5. Engelson (2014)
    Emerging Voices: The “Hands of God” at Work: Negotiating between Western and Re…
    College English
Show all 15 →
  1. Pavia (2013)
    Literacy Sponsorship of the “My Online Friends” Discussion Board: Competing and…
    Computers and Composition
  2. Geiger (2013)
    Emerging Voices: Unpredictable Encounters: Religious Discourse, Sexuality, and …
    College English
  3. Ringer (2013)
    The Consequences of Integrating Faith into Academic Writing: Casuistic Stretchi…
    College English
  4. McKee et al. (2012)
    The Ethics of Archival Research
    College Composition and Communication
  5. DePalma (2011)
    Re-envisioning Religious Discourses as Rhetorical Resources in Composition Teac…
    College Composition and Communication
  6. Vieira (2011)
    Undocumented in a Documentary Society
    Written Communication
  7. Kirsch et al. (2010)
    Feminist Rhetorical Practices: In Search of Excellence
    College Composition and Communication
  8. Carter (2007)
    Living inside the Bible (Belt)
    College English
  9. Perkins (2001)
    "A Radical Conversion of the Mind": Fundamentalism, Hermeneutics, and the Metan…
    College English
  10. Kirsch (1997)
    Multi-Vocal Texts and Interpretive Responsibility
    College English
Also cites 13 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1207/s15430421tip3903_7
     ↗
  2. 10.1525/9780520340664-005
     ↗
  3. 10.4324/9781315769912
     ↗
  4. 10.3998/mpub.23686
     ↗
  5. 10.1086/428417
     ↗
  6. 10.1086/428420
     ↗
  7. 10.1525/aeq.1993.24.2.05x1117y
     ↗
  8. 10.1075/swll.2
     ↗
  9. 10.1080/15295030802032283
     ↗
  10. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199398973.001.0001
     ↗
  11. 10.2307/j.ctt6wr9q4.10
     ↗
  12. 10.1086/428424
     ↗
  13. 10.1525/aeq.2005.36.1.093
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 8 View in citation network →

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