ABSTRACT
This study is an examination of the
language of Christian religion with particular reference to the Roman Catholic
Church and Pentecostal denominations. Chapter one embodies the introduction to
the study, the objective of the work, its scope and delimitation, a brief
origin of Christian religion, and that of the two denominations. Chapter two is
a brief review of the related literature. Chapter three brings out the features
of the language of Christian religion; the lexical, grammatical, metaphorical,
typographical and graphological features. Chapter four is a further analysis of
the sermons, rituals, liturgies and sacred text of the two denominations. The
final chapter includes a comparative summary analysis of the two denominations,
a brief conclusion of the work and recommendation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
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i
Approval Page
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ii
Dedication
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iii
Acknowledgment
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v
Abstract
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vi
Table of
Contents --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vii
Definition of
Terms-------------------------------------------------------------------------------viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
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1
1.1 Background
of the Study --------------------------------------------------------------------
3
1.2 Statement of
Research Problem ------------------------------------------------------------ 7
1.3 Aim and Objective
of the Study ------------------------------------------------------------7
1.4 Significance
of the Study---------------------------------------------------------------------7
1.5 Scope and
Delimitation -----------------------------------------------------------------------8
1.6 Research Methodology
-----------------------------------------------------------------------8
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Review of
Related Literature----------------------------------------------------------------10
2.1 Sources of
Literature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------10
2.2 Review of
the of Language of Christian Religion----------------------------------------14
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Features of Language of
Christian Religion -----------------------------------------------17
3.1 Grammar of the Langue of
Christian Religion---------------------------------------------18
3.2 Lexis of the language of
Christian Religion -----------------------------------------------20
3.3 Metaphorical Language of
Christian Religion---------------------------------------------22
3.4 Typographical Features of
Language of Christian Religion-----------------------------23
3.5 Graphlogical Features of
Language of Christian Religion--------------------------------24
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Liturgies of the language
of Roman Catholic Church -----------------------------------25
4.2 Sermon of the Roman Catholic
Church ----------------------------------------------------27
4.3 The Sacred Test of Roman
Catholic Church ----------------------------------------------31
4.4 The Sermon of Pentecostal
Denominations -----------------------------------------------35
4.5 Sacred Text of Pentecostal
Denominations ------------------------------------------------37
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Comparative Summary------------------------------------------------------------------------40
5.2 Conclusion
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5.3 Recommendation
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Works
Cited
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Appendices
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CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The major
objective of language is communication but the manner in which language
communicates appears to be interlinked with individual experiences in terms of
linguistic attitude, cultural influences and personal perception. Register is a
term that is used to describe variations in language according to use. For
instance, Thorne says that lawyers use a legal register, doctors a medical
register and the priests a religious register ( 95).
The language of Christian religion
will be examined by analysing the spoken and written forms of the language of
Roman Catholic Church and the selected Pentecostal denominations. Christian
religion is the most widely distributed of the world religions. In the 1990s
its total membership exceeded up to 1.9 billion people (Probert Microsoft
Encarta).There are other systems of beliefs and values such as Platonism,
Marxism, Freudianism or Democracy. Christianity is in many ways comprehensible
only to those who share its benefits and strive to live by its values.
Wilken points out that Jerusalem is the center
of Christian religion, at least until its destruction by the Roman armies in
A.D 70. From it Christianity radiated to other cities and towns in Palestine and beyond. At
first, its approval was large although it was not completely confined to the
adherents of Judaism to which it was presented as new but not a brand new
religion (820).
Leith
states that in its very beginning, Christian religion manifested a dual
relation to the Jewish faith, a relation of continuity and yet of fulfillment
of antithesis and of affirmation. The forced conversion of the Jews in the
Middles ages and the history of anti-Semites
condemnations of both by church leaders are the evidence that the
antithesis could easily overshadow affirmation. The fateful loss of continuity
with Judaism has however never been total (450).
Above all, the presence of so many
elements of Judaism in the Christian Bible has acted to remind Christians that
He who they worshiped as their Lord was Himself a Jew and that the New
Testament does not stand on its own but it is appended to the Old Testament. An
important source of the alienation of Christianity from its Jewish root was the change in membership.
And at the same point ,Christians with
Gentile backgrounds began to outnumber the Jewish Christians. Clearly, the work
of Apostle Paul was influential. Born a Jew, he was deeply involved in the
destiny of Judaism, but as a result of his conversion, he believed that he was
a “chosen instrument” to bring the message of Christ to Gentiles. He was the
one who formulated his epistle to several early Christian congregations and many
of his ideas constitute the core of Christian religion (453).
Manners says that the Christian religion
is easier to describe historically than define logically. Such a description
does yield some insights into continuing practices and essential
characteristics of the Christian religion. One of such element is the
centrality of the person of Jesus Christ. This is in one way or another, a feature
of all historical varieties of the Christian belief and practice. Jesus Christ
died so that his followers might share in the life of the Father in heaven and become the children of God. His cruxfiction, death and resurrection, to
which the early Christians referred when they spoke about him as the one who
had reconciled humanity to God, made the cross the chief focus of Christian
faith and devotion .It is also the principal symbol of the saving love of God
the father (520).
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The Greek
word Ka0aЛukoc (katholikos) from which catholic is derived means “universal”.
It was first used to describe the Christian church in the early second century.
Since the East-West schism of 1054, Norman
states that the western church has generally been known as ‘Catholic’ and the
Eastern Church as ‘Orthodox’. Following the reformation in the 16th
century, the church in communion with the Bishop of Rome used the term Catholic
to distinguish itself from the various Protestant churches (15).
According to Phayer, Roman
Catholic Church is the world’s largest
Christian church with more than a billion members. Its leader is the Pope who
holds a supreme authority in concert with the collage of Bishops. The church
defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the
sacraments and exercising charity. It operates social programme and
institutions throughout the world including schools, universities, hospitals,
missions and shelters (930).
Having played a prominent role since
the forth century, it teaches that it is “one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church’ founded by Jesus Christ. Its
Bishops are consecrated successors of his Apostles and the Pope, as the
successor of Saint Peter, possesses a universal primacy of jurisdiction through
twenty-one ecumenical councils. The church maintains that it is guided by the
Holy Spirit from falling into doctrinal error. The belief of the Roman Catholic
is based on the Holy Bible and Sacred traditions interpreted by the church’s
teachings and they are detailed in the catechism of the Catholic Church.
Catholic worship is called the liturgy,
the central component is the Eucharist (938).
Doctrine of the Roman Catholic
Church
According
to the Encyclopedia of Catholicism, the Catholic Church holds that there
is one external God, who exists as a mutual indwelling of three persons, God
the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit which makes up the Trinity. To
Catholics, the term “church” refers to the people of God who abide in Christ
and who are nourished with the body of Christ. The Catholics also believe that the
fullness of the means of salvation exists only in Catholic Church. It also
acknowledges that the Holy Spirit can make use of Christian communities
separate from itself to bring people to salvation.
This doctrine teaches that anyone who
is saved is saved even if the person has
invincible ignorance of the church and its teaching. According to the council
of Trent,
Christ instituted the seven sacraments; they are Baptism, Confirmation, the
Eucharist, Reconciliation (Penance), Anointing of the sick, (formally extreme
unction), Holy orders and Holy matrimony. Sacraments are important visible
rituals that Catholics see as God’s presence and effective channel of God’s
grace (353).
In an event known as the incarnation,
the church teaches that through the power of the Holy Spirit, God became united
with human nature when Christ was
conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Christ therefore, is believed
to be fully divine and fully human. Prayers to the Virgin Mary is also part of
Catholic piety but are distinct from the worship of God. The church holds Mary,
as a perpetual virgin and Mother of God, in special regard. Catholics beliefs
concerning Mary include her immaculate conception without the stain of original
sin and bodily assumption into heaven at the end of her life. This is
infallibly defined as dogma by Pope Pius ix .Devotions such as the Rosary, the
Hail Mary, the slave Regina
and the memorare are common Catholic prayers (56).
After baptism, Catholics may obtain
forgiveness for subsequent sins through the sacrament of reconciliation
(confession). In this sacrament, an individual confesses to a priest who then
offers advice and imposes a particular penance to be performed. The priest is
forbidden under penalty of excommunication to reveal any sin or disclosure
heard under the seal of confession. Immediately after death, the soul of each
person will receive a particular judgment from God based on the deeds of that
individual’s earthly life (383).
Pentecostal Denominations
Probert, Walter Microsoft Encarta
states that Pentecostal denominations dates from April 4 1906, when members of the congregation
of Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles Californian
experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This denomination emphasized the
teaching of the ‘full gospel ‘or foursquare. This term refers to the four
fundamental believes of Pentecostalism : Jesus saves according to John 3:16, baptizes
with the Holy spirit according to Acts 2:4, heals bodily according to James
5:15 and is coming again to receive those who are saved according to
Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Pentecostals greatly adhere to the
doctrine of biblical teachings,
believe that the Bible has divine authority in
matters of faith and adopt a literalist approach to its interpretation. However,
they differ from other evangelicals by rejecting Colossian’s teaching. They
belief that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy did not
cease after New Testament times and that they are still in still in operation
today. This is the fundamental requirement of Pentecostalism. The Pentecostal
belief and practice centers on the understanding of the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. To them salvation is received by
grace through faith in Jesus Christ and cannot be earned through good deeds
alone unlike the Catholic belief.
Ordinances and Practices of
Pentecostal Denominations.
Like other Christian churches
Pentecostals believe that certain rituals or ceremonies were instituted as a
pattern and command by Jesus in the New Testament. Some Pentecostals commonly
call these ordinances, while the Roman Catholics in particular, call it
sacraments. However, the ordinance of communion is seen as a direct command
given by Jesus at the last supper. Some Pentecostals reject the use of wine for
the communion; they use grape instead. These Pentecostal denominations are also
seen in Africa and Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
The problem of this research study
arises from the need to know if actually there is any difference in the
language of Christian religion considering its multifarious denominations.
1.3 THE AIM
AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of
this research is to identify the language of Christian religion with particular
reference to that of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pentecostal
denominations in order to bring out the differences and similarities in their
use of language.
This research achieves this purpose
through the examination and analysis of their spoken but written and written
forms of language.
1.4 THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This work
is unique in the sense that it explores and brings out the language of
Christian religion .This is a branch of register that people have been
neglecting or putting little or no effort in researching. It will also be a
stimulant and reference point to future researchers in the area of language and
Christian religion.
This work, will in addition, serve as
a means of enlightenment of how language is manipulated or used, especially
during worship services, in the two Christian denominations.
Finally, it will further help to
situate the fact that there can be slight differences even within the language
or register of Christian religion.
1.5 THE
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
For ease of exposition, the work is
limited to the literatures used in both Catholic and Pentecostal denominations.
The language is found in many contexts: religious newspapers and bulletins,
radio tapes, audio and video compound disc, local publicity materials that
promote church events, sermons preached in both denominations and in their
sacred text the Holy Bible.
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The observation method was used during
the service. The observation was carried out in three Catholic and Pentecostal
churches respectively in the Enugu
metropolis .These churches are:
1. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church ,Uwani, Enugu.
2. Christ the
King Catholic Church, G.R.A, Enugu.
3. Caritas University
Chaplaincy, Amorji Nike, Enugu.
4. Apostolic
Faith Church ,Nkponkiti Road, Enugu.
5. Assemblies
of God, Isiagu Street,
Uwani Enugu.
6. Living Faith
Church, Winners Avenue ,off
Presidential Road,
Enugu.
Other sources used include: textbooks,
journals, Christian newspapers, Holy Bible, written sermon and internet
facilities.
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
SERMON:
It is a moral statement whose aim is to dictate a certain kind of behaviors
through series of examples.
LITURGIES: It can be invocations, petitions and they can
be written to be read or sung.
THEOLOGICAL
TEST: It is a
discursive document with a moral purpose written by a biblical scholar,
theologians or clergy
RITUALS:
It is a specific ceremony to mark baptisms and funerals.
OMNIPOTENT:
Having total power, able to do something.
SUPERNATURAL: Events forces or powers
that cannot be explained by he laws of science and seem to involve gods or
magic.
BENEDICTIONS: A blessing pronounced at the end of church
service.
CARNALITY:
A state of being unspiritual.
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