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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
"Health And Wealth" And The World Wide Web: Leading Renewalist Ministries' Use Of Web To Communicate Social Order, Douglas J. Swanson
"Health And Wealth" And The World Wide Web: Leading Renewalist Ministries' Use Of Web To Communicate Social Order, Douglas J. Swanson
Journalism
Renewalist Christian ministries espouse a “Health andWealth” theology that is embraced by increasing numbers of believers. This study investigated leading renewalist ministries’WorldWideWeb sites to assess their application of visual, operational, and informational enhancements to communicate social order. A content analysis revealed a communication of social order that is consistent with prosperity theology. Much emphasis is placed on the appearance and personality of the ministry leader. Almost no attention is paid to traditional Christian symbolism. Web sites claimed the value of inclusiveness, but offered little visual representation of children, senior adults, the poor, and people of color. Sites communicated the importance …
Show Me, Help Me, Tell Me, Sell Me: Leading Christian Renewalist Ministries' Use Of The World Wide Web For Evangelizing, Fundraising, And Merchandising, Douglas J. Swanson
Show Me, Help Me, Tell Me, Sell Me: Leading Christian Renewalist Ministries' Use Of The World Wide Web For Evangelizing, Fundraising, And Merchandising, Douglas J. Swanson
Journalism
This research is an analysis of visual, operational, informational, fundraising, and merchandising content of World Wide Web sites of 13 leading renewalist Christian ministries. Renewalist Christians espouse a “Health and Wealth” theology that is embraced by increasing numbers of believers worldwide. A content analysis, coupled with the application of media framing and constant comparative analysis allowed for quantitative and qualitative findings. Visual and operational content was found to be oriented mostly toward communication, while informational content was oriented mostly toward evangelization. Most renewalist sites eschewed traditional Christian symbolism and emphasized positive themes and “can do” encouragement. Fundraising and product sales …