God Talk

Mark Ward Sr. is Professor of Communication at the University of Houston-Victoria. He has authored or edited seven books, while his research on religious communication and media has been published in more than 40 scholarly articles and essays and received numerous awards.

List of Contributors – Acknowledgments – Preface – Mark Ward Sr.: Introduction: "A Possible Relationship between Belief and Knowledge" – Quentin J. Schultze: The "God-Problem" in Communication Studies – Lakelyn E. Taylor: Let Them Take the Lead: A Holistic, Culture-Centered Approach to Divine-Human Communication – Elaine Schnabel: The Politics of Knowledge Production: Situating the "God Problem" in the Context of Decolonization – Arielle Leonard Hodges: Religion and Spirituality in Communication Research: Moving Toward a Sociocultural Identity Framework – Christine J. Gardner: The Researcher as Translator: Locating the God Problem in Researcher Identity – Kathleen D. Clark: "Silence is the Communication Behavior of God": Contemplation and Collaborative Autoethnography – Joshua D. Hill: The "Still Small Voice": A Phenomenological Approach to Divine Communication – Mark Ward Sr.: Toward a Theory of Divine Communication? Prospects and Problems – Edward Lee Lamoureux: Who Owns the God Problem? A Reader Response Solution – Quentin J. Schultze: Reconsidering the "God-Problem" in Communication Studies.

“This important work gathers diverse voices to further a much-needed research agenda in religious communication. Contributors demonstrate not only the relevance of religious communication in multiple contexts, but also challenge us to consider how it can build bridges inside and outside the Academy. Works like this provide hope that a sustained scholarly agenda in religious communication can help address some of our most urgent and consistent societal needs.”
—Robert H. Woods Jr., J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director, Christianity and Communication Studies Network

“A much-needed contribution to the growing body of research at the intersection of communication and religion, this scholarly volume gathers work from established and emerging scholars to address a long-standing issue in the field of religious communication: the conundrum of divine-human communication. These scholarly essays, representing a variety of methodological perspectives, are both theoretically rich and accessible and offer heuristic insights for continuing the conversation in this key area.”
—Janie M. H. Fritz, Ph.D., Duquesne University; Executive Director, Religious Communication Association

“The intelligence of this exceptional book is a perfect ten. The theoretical depth of every chapter reflects research brilliance. The authors’ clarity with ideas, ancient and contemporary, is knowledge production at its substantive best. This book’s erudite scholarship demonstrates that divine-human discourse is of profound significance for communication studies across the globe.”
—Clifford G. Christians, Ph.D., Research Professor of Communications Emeritus, University of Illinois

“A well-crafted digest of thought-provoking essays that address seminal God-human communication questions and problems. Each chapter evidences careful scholarship from highly respected scholars. Whether your interests include communication theory, rhetorical criticism, ethnography, or theology, regardless of your faith tradition—or absence of a faith tradition—it is a stimulating read. I highly recommend it.”
—Steven A. Beebe, Ph.D., Regents’ and University, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Texas State University; Past President, National Communication Association