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Recreating Religion: The Response To Joseph Smith’S Innovations In The Second Prophetic Generation Of Mormonism, Christopher James Blythe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, was assassinated. In the wake of his death, a number of would-be
successors emerged. Each of these leaders - part of what I call the second prophetic
generation - established a unique vision of Mormonism.

In 1844, Mormonism was in the middle of a major shift in its character. Joseph
Smith’s death left numerous theological and practical questions unresolved. This thesis argues that, rather than merely a succession struggle of competition and power, a principal function of the second prophetic generation in Mormonism …

Occam's Beard: Belief, Disbelief, And Contested Meanings In American Ufology, William J. Dewan

American Studies ETDs

The purpose of this dissertation is to critically examine the emergence, maintenance, evolution, and dissemination of belief traditions in New Mexico and the United States that are most commonly associated with the UFO phenomenon. This critical analysis incorporates theoretical frameworks from a multitude of interrelated disciplines, including folklore, history, anthropology, popular culture studies, sociology, and psychology. The primary goal of this dissertation involves the attempt to formulate a typology of UFO accounts in American culture, and how said accounts are interpreted, communicated, and publicly evaluated. To achieve this end, a database of UFO-related experiences was compiled in New Mexico and …

The Religious Divide: Why Religion Seems To Be Thriving In The United States And Waning In Europe, Steven Pfaff

Sociology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"In the decades following the Second World War, most social scientists expected convergence among the Western industrial democracies. Modernization was expected to bring prosperity and opportunity, initiating a “culture shift” to posttraditional values and lifestyles.

However, in recent years observers have remarked on a growing divide between Europeans and Americans. This divergence may be nowhere greater than in the religious sphere. While faith is loudly proclaimed and a bustling diversity of religious organizations jostles for attention in all arenas of public life in the United States, the European Union (EU) is described as thoroughly secularized, comprised of societies in which …

Desert Solecisms: The Revitalization Of Self And Community Through Edward Abbey, The Cold War, And The Sacred Fire Circle, Lyra Hilliard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This creative thesis is a braided narrative in which I explore the promised lands of Utah through my travels in the summer of 2008, the Cold War defense industry, and the early career of writer Edward Abbey. America's domestic and foreign policy shifts in the first decade of the Cold War contributed to the rise of modern environmentalism and to the creation of countless new religious movements in the late 1960s and early 1970s. To illustrate the cataclysmic upheavals of this era, each chapter of this thesis has been organized according to anthropologist Anthony F. C. Wallace's schema of revitalization …

Sacred Selves: An Ethnographic Study Of Narratives And Community Practices At A Spiritual Center, Sean E. Currie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many scholars have examined the religious phenomenon known as the New Age Movement, resulting in a large body of literature on the subject. Despite this abundance of prior research, only a small number of studies conducted in the United States investigate what it means to be a "New Ager" from the perspective of the members. In order to contribute to the academic understanding of New Age identities and communities, I conducted an ethnographic study of an alternative spiritual center in the Tampa Bay area, here called the Spirit Grove. My research includes over fifty hours of participant observations, ten in-depth …

Finding Confucianism In Scientology: A Comparative Analysis, John Albert Kieffer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scientology holds considerable interest for scholars of new religious movements. As such, this study aims to contribute new data and insight to ongoing theoretical work within this area of religious studies scholarship. Engaged in this inquiry are the similarities between Scientology, the new religious movement founded in 1951 by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986), and the Chinese religion, Confucianism, which originates with the teachings of Confucius (551-479 BCE). Though Hubbard admits being influenced by eastern thinking such as Buddhism and Daoism in shaping his worldview, he specifically discounts Confucius as relevant in this regard. However, through comparisons between Scientology and Confucianism, …

Capitalism, Consumerism, And Individualism: Investigating The Rhetoric Of The Secret, Carolina Fernandez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I am investigating a New Age spiritual movement called the Law of Attraction that has been the source of recent media attention due to the recent publication of a self-help book called The Secret. The book investigates this phenomenon, which is a theory that takes positive thinking to the extreme. The theory states that reality can be literally manifested through one's thoughts. I am interested in this trend because it supports consumerist values, entrepreneurship, and self-actualization while using socialist rhetoric to promote capitalist values. I am also interested in the implications that this rhetoric holds for women and marginalized groups. …

Metropolitan Community Church: A Perfectly Queer Reading Of The Bible, Matthew D. Stewart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the hermeneutical strategies that Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) has employed in interpreting the Bible. As a new religious movement (NRM) with an outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals MCC interprets the text in light of its membership. The interpretive strategies and methodologies employed are in keeping with other denominations in the Christian tradition. This provides a possible avenue by which MCC can be classified within the Christian tradition.

The interpretation of the biblical text is given in light of the gay people who compose MCC's membership. Gays and lesbians have experienced social and religious stress. …

The Proliferating Sacred: Secularization And Postmodernity, Donald Surrency

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When analyzing the role religion plays in contemporary American society, one is forced to address the notion of secularization. This is a term that broadly refers to the marginalization of religious influence in culture and society that began at the outset of the Enlightenment, sometime during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but, as Peter Berger argues, can actually be traced back to the times of the great Israelite prophets who emerged during the Axial Age (800-200 BCE). Throughout the available literature, proponents of the secularization thesis extend the marginalization of religious influence from the societal level to the level of …

The Commodification Of Yoga In Contemporary U.S. Culture, Michelle E. Demeter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Yoga is an increasingly visible and versatile commodity in the United States health market. Though its origins stretch to pre-Vedic India and its traditional religious purpose is linked to Hinduism, it is evident that yoga has undergone much change since its transmission to U.S. culture. In its popular, widespread incarnation in the United States, yoga is not usually learned at the feet of a guru, but at exercise centers and gyms. These secular locales of yoga's practice help define the "yoga phenomenon" in contemporary America. This phenomenon has resulted in yoga's wide acceptance and high visibility in American popular culture …

Radical Religious Groups And Government Policy: A Critical Evaluation, Tori Chambers Lockler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Religion, many times, is one of the phenomena that is misunderstood and often rejected due to apprehension. There is an expected "norm" within our culture for religion and those that fall outside that "norm" are typically criticized for their beliefs. Within Christianity there are a number of extremist groups that follow millennial doctrines and believe they are living in the end times. These organizations tend to view the government as oppressive, disrespectful, immoral and corrupt. Because of this when an incident occurs with one of these millennial groups and the government steps in to control the situation, the way it …

An Analysis Of Print Media Reporting Of Established Religions And New Religious Movements, Lonnie F. Griffin Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports findings from a content analysis of 720 newspaper articles and 3,052 newspaper article cases focused on the issue of print media bias. Sunday editions of three major newspapers were drawn from the six-year period 1998-2003 for analysis. Prior research has uncovered print media bias in reporting of religious groups, and this thesis examines the substance of those claims pertaining to both established religions and new religious movements. Research findings show that established religions and their members are typically described in favorable or neutral terms, while new religious movements and their members are consistently described with pejorative terms. …

Pennsylvania Folklife Vol. 39, No. 2, Wendy Everham, Lee C. Hopple, Ervin Beck, Juliana Bova, Grover M. Detwiler, Robert P. Stevenson

Pennsylvania Folklife Magazine

• The Recovery of the Feminine in an Early American Pietist Community: The Interpretive Challenge of the Theology of Conrad Beissel
• A Religious and Geographical History of the Shakers, 1747-1988
• Indiana Amish Family Records
• Eel for Christmas: An Italian Tradition
• Recollections of Ninety-Two Years
• Those Old-Time Children's Days
• Aldes un Neies (Old and New)

20th Annual National Campmeeting To Be Held Here July 16 To Aug 16, Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A clip from the July 11, 1927 Baxter Springs newspaper.

Increase Mather: The Foremost American Puritan, Kenneth B. Murdock

Zea E-Books in American Studies

The classic biography of preeminent colonial Massachusetts minister and President of Harvard College, Increase Mather (1639-1723). This is the work that re-started Puritan studies in America.

“A book which will be indispensable to students of early American history.” —Times Literary Supplement

“It is a book to welcome and appreciate.” —American Historical Review

“The available sources have been used carefully, and the story is told with great literary skill.” —The Sewanee Review

“[Murdock’s book] opened the sluice gates to powerful streams of scholarship that in the next two decades revised our understanding of American Puritanism.” —Philip F. Gura, in A Concise …

"Coming To Guymon" (October 19??), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

"Coming to Guymon [Oklahoma]". Publisher unknown. Date is October 22-23, 19??. Photo of Parham appears to be c. 1920s. No transcript.

"As Dr. Speicher Sees It" - Zion City News (June 25, 1907), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

Subtitle: Letter to the News from Well Known Zion Man Regarding the Gift of Tongues." J. G. Speicher. Pp. 1-2

"Great Scene: Leaders Of The Apostolic Faith Draw Wonderously Strange Gathering," Mobile Daily (1907), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A transcript of an 1907 article in the Mobile Daily, Alabama. Article discusses the character of the meetings in Mobile, AL.

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"Fifty Have Gift Of Tongues At Zion City" Daily Sun (Nov 15, 1906), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"The Gift Of Tongue: What Means It?" Waukegan Gazette (Oct 1906), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A photocopy of an article on Tongues and Parham.

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"Evangelist Parham Makes Volivan Throne Tremble" Daily Sun (Sept 28, 1906), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

From the Daily Sun of Wakegan, Illinois.

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"Former Galena Preacher May Oust Overseer Voliva" Daily Waukegan (Sept 26, 1906), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A transcript of an article from the Daily Sun, Waukegan, Ill, on September 26, 1906.

"Apostolic Rally" - Houston Chronicle (September 2, 1906), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

"Apostolic Rally. Brunner Tabernacle Held Big Crowds Yesterday" Houston Chronicle, 2 September 1906, n.p.

"A Revolution," Houston Chronicle (Sept 2, 1906) - Transcript, Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A transcript of Sept 2, 1906 article in the Houston Chronicle.

"Declare Parham Is Gaining." Waukegan Daily Gazette (September 28, 1906), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

"Reports from Zion are that New Prophet is Making Big Inrodes Upon other Prophet's following."

"Apostolic Fervor" - Galveston News (August 23, 1906), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

"Apostolic Fervor. Weaping and Shouting, Wailing, Moaning and Preaching, Characterized Services."

Galveston News, 23 August 1906, n.p.

"Founder Of Holy Rollers Smiles At Plans Of St. Louis Women To Convert Followers" St. Louis Post-Dispatch Aug 5 1906, Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

An article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from August 5, 1906, with transcript. Documents the street meetings of Charles Parham at 7th and Kansas Ave in St. Louis, MO.

"Apostolic Rally" Houston Chronicle (Aug 1906), Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A photo copy of an article from Houston Chronicle August 1906. Transcript included. Includes a description of Parham's stature and preaching style.

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"Dr. Parham Arrives." Houston (Aug 1906), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

Publication unknown but could be Houston Chronicle or Houston Daily Post

"Blame The Devil" Topeka Daily Herald (July 30, 1906), Holy Spirit Research Center Oru Library

Parham News Paper Clippings

Subtitle: "Parham says he caused the San Francisco Disaster"

Transcript of original article.