Authors: Bobby Chris Alexander
ISBN-13: 9781555409074, ISBN-10: 1555409075
Format: Paperback
Publisher: An American Academy of Religion Book
Date Published: January 1994
Edition: New Edition
By closely examining four television programsFalwell's "The Old-Time Gospel Hour," Robertson's "700 Club," the Bakkers' "PTL Club," and the telecasts of Jimmy Swaggartthis work considers the attraction of televangelism for its conservative Christian audience. It argues that televangelism, as ritual performance, both legitimates the beliefs of viewers and at the same time adapts other beliefs of its viewers to the broader culture.
Preface | ||
1 | Introduction: Televangelism As Redressive Ritual within A Larger Social Drama | 1 |
Pt. 1 | Behind the Scenes, or The Bigger Picture | 17 |
2 | Televangelism in Caricature and Its Human Face | 19 |
3 | Viewers' Marginalized Religion and Social Standing within American Society | 31 |
4 | The Religion of Televangelism and its Viewers | 49 |
5 | The Emergence of Televangelism As Distinctive Religious Programming | 57 |
Pt. 2 | Televangelism As Ritual | 63 |
6 | Viewers' Ritual Participation in the Telecasts | 65 |
7 | Ritual in the Service of Legitimation and Adaptation | 73 |
8 | Ritual in the Search for Human Community | 85 |
Pt. 3 | The Television Programs | 95 |
9 | "The Old-Time Gospel Hour": Ritual in the Service of Legitimation | 97 |
10 | The "700 Club": Ritual in the Service of Adaptation | 113 |
11 | "Jimmy Swaggart": Ritual Community on the Offensive | 125 |
12 | The "PTL Club" and "The Jim and Tammy Show": Ritual Community As Refuge | 141 |
13 | Conclusion: The Recent Shift in Ritual Roles: Televangelism's New Emphasis on Community | 157 |
Appendix: Survey of Viewers | 163 | |
Endnotes | 185 | |
Bibliography | 201 |