A Pentadic Analysis of Two Pleas for Christian Unity :: Religion Christians Christianity Burke Papers

A Pentadic Analysis of Two Pleas for Christian Unity Introduction The prayer for Christian unity began with Christ, himself (John 121), andcontinues today. This essay proposes to examine both pleas for Christianunity using the rhetorical theory of Kenneth hit. According to EmGriffin, Kenneth Burke was the foremost rhetorician of the twentiethcentury. Burke wrote about rhetoric other rhetoricians keep open about Burke(319).Burkes theory seems especially relevant to the study of pleas for unitybecause of his focus on identification. For Burke, rhetoric isidentification. You persuade a man only to that degree as you can talk hislanguage by speech, gesture, tonality, order, image, attitude, idea,identifying your ways with his (Rhetoric 55). Additionally, Burkeequates identification with consubstantiality. To identify A with B is tomake A consubstantial with B (Rhetoric 21). The two calls for Christian unity to be analyzed argon Thomas CampbellsDeclaration and Address and E. Glen n Wagners The Awe roughly Power ofShared Beliefs. Campbells address is important because of its historicalsignificance. This document, which calls for Christian unity through areturn to the clear and unambiguous teachings of the New Testament, inmany ways chartered the course for the movement the Campbells led (Hughes11). Wagners criminal record is chosen because of the contemporary prominence of thePromise Keepers movement.This essay will proceed by explaining relevant aspects of Kenneth Burkesworks, including the methodology to be used, applying the methodology tothe two pleas, and discussing the results.Dramatism and the Pentad Burke saw life as a drama played out in our language. By examining thewords of a person, you can determine his or her motives. Motives aregrammatical creations which explain what people are doing and why theyare doing it (Grammar x). Foss provides the following explanationWe use rhetoric to constitute and present a particular put one over ofour situation , just as the presentation of a play creates acertain world or situation inhabited by characters who engagein actions in a setting. Through rhetoric, we size up situationsand name their structures and outstanding ingredients. How wedescribe a situation indicates how we are perceiving it, thechoices we see available to us, and the action we are liable(predicate) totake in our situation. (456)The pentad is a the tool used to investigate motives. Burke writes, . . . any complete statement about motives will offer some kind of answer tothese five questions what was done (act), when or where it was done(scene), who did it (agent), how he did it (agency), and why (purpose)(Grammar x).