On this episode of Following Jesus with Christ Church pastors Andrew & Addison talk with Lisa Vander Maas and Lindsay Williams. Lisa, wife to Andrew, and Lindsay have been involved with teaching for many years. Through their teaching they have engaged with rhetoric, or thoughtful, reasoned and clear talk.
5 Canons of Rhetoric
inventio (invention): The process of developing and refining your arguments.
dispositio (arrangement): The process of arranging and organizing your arguments for maximum impact.
elocutio (style): The process of determining how you present your arguments using figures of speech and other rhetorical techniques.
memoria (memory): The process of learning and memorizing your speech so you can deliver it without the use of notes. Memory-work not only consisted of memorizing the words of a specific speech, but also storing up famous quotes, literary references, and other facts that could be used in impromptu speeches.
actio (delivery): The process of practicing how you deliver your speech using gestures, pronunciation, and tone of voice.
Quotes from the show:
“These are the two loves: the first is holy, the second foul; the first is social, the second selfish; the first consults the common welfare for the sake of a celestial society, the second grasps at a selfish control of social affairs for the sake of arrogant domination; the first is submissive to God, the second tries to rival God; the first is quiet, the second restless; the first is peaceful, the second trouble-making; the first prefers truth to the praises of those who are in error, the second is greedy for praise, however it may be obtained; the first is friendly, the second envious; the first desires for its neighbor what it wishes for itself, the second desires to subjugate its neighbor; the first rules its neighbor for the good of its neighbor, the second for its own advantage; and these two loves produce a distinction among the angels: the first love belongs to the good angels, the second to the bad angels; and they also separate the two cities founded among the race of men, under the wonderful and ineffable Providence of God, administering and ordering all things that have been created: the first city is that of the just, the second is that of the wicked. Although they are now, during the course of time, intermingled, they shall be divided at the last judgment; the first, being joined by the good angels under its King, shall attain eternal life; the second, in union with the bad angels under its king, shall be sent into eternal fire. Perhaps, we shall treat, God willing, of these two cities more fully in another place.” St. Augustine of Hippo (Translated by Marcus Dod in 1876)
Scriptures from the show:
“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
Resources/Links
- On classical rhetoric: The Liberal Arts Tradition: a Philosophy of Christian Classical Education by Kevin Clark and Ravi Scott Jain is an introduction to classical liberal arts education which includes learning about rhetoric.
- On the art of rhetoric: If you are interested in an accessible resource to learn about rhetoric,Lindsay recommends this series of blogs on Rhetoric 101.
- A common reference throughout the show A Rhetoric of Love by Douglas M. Jones re-imagines rhetoric from a Christian perspective and casts a new vision of a Christian Rhetoric of Love versus a Rhetoric of Dominion.
- More resources from Christ Church COVID-19 Response page.
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Grace & Peace