Date of Award
5-1-1972
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Sacred Theology (STM)
Department
Practical Theology
First Advisor
David Deppe
Abstract
The contemporary communications environment is described in this thesis for the purpose of determining the ways in which it conditions the learning and perception of modern man. The basic resource is the writing of Herbert Marshall McLuhan, Director of the Center for Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto and author of several books about the media. His understanding of the history of media and his descriptions of the electronic environment and modern man constitute a comprehensive analysis of communications in the current era. McLuhan's background, his expressed assumptions, and basic resources are described in order to provide a better understanding of his writings. Major themes from his works about the media are examined in order to isolate those which have implications for Christian preaching. An overview of positive and negative criticisms of McLuhan's work exposes some of his strengths and weaknesses. Finally, Christian preaching is examined through a historical survey, giving special attention to the homiletic task in the electronic environment. The study concludes with a discussion of ways in which the media assist or detract from the communication of the Gospel. Some practical observations about what the media can and cannot do to aid the task of preaching are made. These place McLuhan's ideas into perspective and draw from him those insights which can assist Christian preachers.
Recommended Citation
Winter, Clifford Allen, "Preaching in the World of Electronic Technology-Implicatiions for Homiletics in the Message of H. Marshall Mcluhan" (1972). Master of Sacred Theology Thesis. 402.
https://scholar.csl.edu/stm/402
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