Talk about Faith
How Debate and Conversation Shape Belief

Through a close analysis of religious believers' discourse, this book shows how beliefs and practices change over time in interaction.

Stephen Pihlaja (Author)

9781108475990, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 February 2021

200 pages
23.6 x 15.8 x 1.8 cm, 0.464 kg

How do people of faith use language to position themselves, and their beliefs and practices, in the contemporary world? This pioneering and original study looks closely at how Christians and Muslims talk to people inside and outside of their own communities about what they think are the right things to believe and do. From debates, to podcasts and YouTube videos, the book covers a range of engaging texts and contexts, showing how doctrine and beliefs are not nearly as fixed and static as we might think, and that people are prone to change what they say they believe, depending on who they are talking to. From abortion, to hell, to whether it's okay to sell alcohol, Pihlaja investigates how Christians and Muslims struggle with different elements of their own faith, and try to make decisions about what to do when there are so many different voices to believe.

1. Talk about Faith in Context
2. Religious Discourse as Data
3. Naming, Changing, and Contemporary Contexts
4. Inspiration, Authority, and Interpretation
5. Living Belief and Practice
6. Conclusion: the Future of Religious Discourse
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Islam [HRH], Christianity [HRC], Religious issues & debates [HRAM], Religion: general [HRA], Religion & beliefs [HR], Linguistics [CF]