A Handbook for New Christian Believers: Including: The Glossary of Christianese

Every group is a medley of unique individuals that share a common interest. As the group forms, meets, practices, and develops their identity and skills, certain words (like nicknames) are made up, that allow for the common identi?cation of certain things that are important to the group. As a result, a group-speci?c jargon is developed.

In, for example, a surfing group, learning “Surferese” becomes part of the initiation process. Mastering the group-specific jargon provides the newer member...