Ritual and Social Dynamics in Christian and Islamic Preaching

Christian and Islamic sermons from past and present, and their preachers, are analyzed to reveal the socio-cultural dynamics of religious speeches.

Part I focuses on the explicit contribution of sermons in socio-cultural transformation processes. It shows how sermons connect with holy texts, religious norms of the specific group, and social-cultural contexts.

Part II analyzes the dynamic tension between normativity and popularity. Rather than juxtaposing normative stances and the popularity o...