QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING

1. Luhrmann is a Stanford-based anthropology professor. What is your reaction to her investigations into evangelical Christians in the United States, in the same manner that an anthropologist might study a tribe of native Amazonians (as Andersen suggests)? Did you find that insulting? Why do you suppose Luhrmann views evangelicals as a group to be studied? Is it fair to say that any group (or subgroup) is open for study, or is there something else going on in Luhrmann’s study? Explain.

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING: Luhrmann is a Stanford-based anthropology professor. What is your reaction to her investigations into evangelical Christians in the United States, in the same manner that an anthropologist might study a tribe of native Amazonians (as Andersen suggests)? Did you find that insulting? Why do you suppose Luhrmann views evangelicals as a group to be studied? Is it fair to say that any group (or subgroup) is open for study, or is there something else going on in Luhrmann’s study? Explain.
2. Part of what Luhrmann is particularly interested in is studying people who believe that God literally spoke to them. What is her reaction to that? What is Andersen’s? What is your own reaction to the idea that God speaks directly to people?

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING: Part of what Luhrmann is particularly interested in is studying people who believe that God literally spoke to them. What is her reaction to that? What is Andersen’s? What is your own reaction to the idea that God speaks directly to people?
3. A comparison is made between those who are mentally ill and those who claim to have literally heard the voice of God. What are the key differences between the two groups that Luhrmann points out? What do these differences suggest?

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING: A comparison is made between those who are mentally ill and those who claim to have literally heard the voice of God. What are the key differences between the two groups that Luhrmann points out? What do these differences suggest?
4. At one point, a caller comes on the show. The caller seems quite articulate and sincere in his discussion of hearing God’s voice. Did the tone of the caller surprise you? Did that run counter to many stereotypes of deeply religious people? Indeed, Luhrmann takes great pains to continually point out that the people she met in her study were far more complicated and multifaceted than many people might think. Consider what this might mean about how the public at large views evangelicals and, in particular, how the media create images and stereotypes of evangelicals that often reinforce a relationship or connection between evangelism and mental instability. On the basis of your own experience and observations, how true or not are these stereotypes? Defend your answer.

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING: At one point, a caller comes on the show. The caller seems quite articulate and sincere in his discussion of hearing God’s voice. Did the tone of the caller surprise you? Did that run counter to many stereotypes of deeply religious people? Indeed, Luhrmann takes great pains to continually point out that the people she met in her study were far more complicated and multifaceted than many people might think. Consider what this might mean about how the public at large views evangelicals and, in particular, how the media create images and stereotypes of evangelicals that often reinforce a relationship or connection between evangelism and mental instability. On the basis of your own experience and observations, how true or not are these stereotypes? Defend your answer.