Professional Documents
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RELIGION:
BY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CARITAS UNIVERSITY AMORJI - NIKE ENUGU
AUGUST, 2010
TITLE PAGE
BY
OKOYE, CHIZOBA CHRISTY
REG. NO: ENG/2006/032
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CARITAS UNIVERSITY AMORJI-NIKE ENUGU
AUGUST, 2010
4
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that this project was carried out by me. No previous
submission of it has been made for any degree. The work of other researchers
are fully acknowledged and referred to accordingly.
Signature---------------------Date ----------------------------
APPROVAL PAGE
This project entitled the Language of Christian Religion: A Comparative Study of Roman
Catholic Church and Some Selected Pentecostal Denominations has been approved as adequate
in scope and quality for partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Award of Bachelor of Arts
in English Language.
..
Mrs. Okoye, Mercy .C.
..
Date
Project Supervisor
.
Mrs. Nwanne, V. N.
..
Date
External Examiner
..
Date
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Mother Mary, for
her powerful intercession, my beloved Mum, Mrs. Christy Okoye, my Hero Mr.
Peter Okoye and my only Brother, Nnaemeka Okoye.
7
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My special salute goes to the Holy Spirit of God, the giver of wisdom and
knowledge, the unction for function and my beautiful beautifier.
I also wish to acknowledge the role played by my parents Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Okoye, who brought me into this world and denied themselves so
many things just to see to the completion of my education in Caritas
University. My appreciation also goes to my one and only brother
Nnaemeka Okoye for his love and encouragement.
I am also indebted to my supervisor Mrs. Mercy Okoye for her patience
and tolerance throughout this work, for her motherly advice and most
especially for sparing her precious time to read and correct this work
despite her tight schedule. I am also grateful to my H.O.D., Mrs. V. N.
Nwanne who is always there for us and tosss my lecturers Miss Adaeze
Eze, Mr. Aneke, Mrs. Gift Onwuta, Dr. C.C. Umeh, Prof. Amadihe Ezugu,
Mrs. Ugwoke, Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Chikodiri.
Other people worthy of mention are Barr. Cordelia Ibe, Mr. Ben Ojikeme,
Evg. Mrs. Joy Nwachukwu, Rev. Fr. Josephat Obodo, Fr. Vincent
Nnatuanya, Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Bro. Chikezie Ononuju, Mrs. Okpalaokaka,
and members of the Apostleship of Prayer League of Sacred Heart of
Jesus Caritas University chaplaincy, for their prayers.
Finally I thank my friends whose influence also made this work a
success: Eby dear, Princess Nasa, Marybless, Amara, Ada, my cousins
Nky Okoye, Amy and I.k Nwachukwu, my course mates, room mates and
all others who in small or little measure contributed to the success of
this work, I say thank you very much and may God bless you all.
ABSTRACT
9
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i
Approval Page ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ii
Dedication ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii
Acknowledgment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- v
Abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vi
Table of Contents -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vii
Definition of Terms-------------------------------------------------------------------------------viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
10
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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------41
5.3 Recommendation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------43
Works Cited --------------------------------------------------------------------------------43
Appendices ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------46
11
DEFINITION OF TERMS
THEOLOGICAL TEST:
12
13
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
14
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
15
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
16
Bishop of Rome used the term Catholic to distinguish itself from the
various Protestant churches (15).
According to Phayer, Roman Catholic Church is the worlds 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 churchs 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
17
18
Denominations
Walter
Microsoft
Encarta
states
that
Pentecostal
This denomination
19
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 Colossians 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.
20
the
communion;
they
use
grape
instead.
These
Pentecostal
1.2
21
1.6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The observation method was used during the service. The
22
23
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1
SOURCES OF LITERATURE
Most of all the related and relevant works reviewed for the purpose
of this study are obtained from textbooks in the areas of language,
linguistics, communication and religion. Websites on the Internet dealing
with these mentioned field were consulted. Other sources include
Christian newspapers and bulletins.
The literature review is assessed based on the contributions of
scholars in the area of the researchers study.
2.2
24
25
of human needs and skills. According to him, religion has to answer the
26
quarries and challenges of the brainy and yet guide the simple - minded
and at the same time supply encouragement and comfort. He further
states that it is a means by which believers can understand something
about the supreme being and can also make contact with the being
through prayers, rituals and services. Whitings
observed
that
many
religions
have
He
sophisticated
27
context of the Church. She further states that the language is part of
everyday life because both believers and non believers and writers use
biblical quotations in their work. Formal varieties of English language
draw on some of the archaisms associated with religious language .For
instance the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14) and Jesus wept
(John 11:35). She says that despite the varied use of religious language,
it can be recognized by some distinctive features that mark it (346). She
further points out that the language of Christian religion has both
written and spoken forms. The Bible, which has both historical and
spiritual significance, provides the focus of worship for Christians.
Spoken language is also distinctive and marked by special pronunciation
and features such as intonation pattern which plays a crucial part in
making sure that the worshippers relate to and understand the spiritual
message well
( 347).
According to Percke, Christian religion is an organized approach to
human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of narrative,
symbols, beliefs and practices. It may be expressed through prayer, ritual
and mediation. It may focus on specific supernatural, metaphysical and
moral claims about reality, which may yield a set of law ethics and a
particular lifestyle. He further states that Christian religion encompasses
28
29
biblical
material
abounds
in
metaphorical
30
seen as a way of using literal and physical pictures to depict special and
transcendental truth. The appropriation of metaphorical reading can be
so ambiguous that it becomes difficult to know whether there is anything
more than just story and meaning, when texts are read in such a way,
metaphor creates another problem for the historical method (152).
He concludes that, if the metaphorical readings of the poetry of the
psalms of the prophets are in apocalyptic literature, then one has to ask
why one does not do so with the narrative accounts as well. And if one
does not, any historical reading of the text is deemed to be redundant.
And, so, the language of Christian religion is both historical and
metaphorical.
31
CHAPTER THREE
3.0
or
request
addressed
to
God;
liturgies
are
chants,
32
3.1
resembles the older forms of English. The third person singular verb is
infected with the th and est.
th as in cometh
th as in liveth
est as in highest
Some verbs also have stronger forms such as sware for swore and
shewed for sowed. In modernized version of the Christian religious
Language, modern verbs are very common and they function to imply
contrasts in the speakers attitude. The mood is rarely interrogative, but
frequently declarative:
The Lord hates people who use
dishonest scales. He is happy with
honest weights
(Good News Bible, Proverb 1.11).
33
Pro
Sub Clause
The first person singular [I] is rarely used in formal prayer, while
the first person plural [we] is common. This reflects the public group
nature of Christian worship.
Sentences in the authorized version of the language of Christian
religion are basically simple.
Adverb
God
Subject
Predicate Object
(Good News Bible, Gen: 1:1).
34
subject and the verb or direct and indirect objects. Prayers are more
likely to have long sequences of dependent clauses as shown in chapter
four. Rites are usually more straight forward often using simple and
compound sentences as rightly observed by Crystal (152).
35
Example:
Thine
Only
Son
Jesus Christ.
36
Dearly
beloved
Adverb.
Adjective
brethren.
Noun
Our
Determiner
The
Determiner
father
Noun
kingdom
Noun
Relative clause
of
heaven.
Prep. phrase.
37
Lords.There is also a link, between the unknown human world and the
theological world which is created through modifiers that define divine
attributes. God is the central cohesive concept in Christianity. The
references are made to God and to theological concepts that are also
linked with God. This implies that half of the determiners used are
possessive. As a result of the abstract spiritual nature of religion, some
of the nouns are not countable such as heaven, compassion, salvation
and so on.
38
39
split the text into phonetic value. Full Stop are not always used to mark
the grammatical end of a sentence, but sometimes they imply a major
phonological pause. Commas can reflect a brief pause, capitalization
marks a proper noun, and personal titles and pronouns are used to refer
to the deity.
Throne further observes that this variety is unlike the language of
everyday conversation because even in the modernised version, many
distinctive features can be traced directly to the Christian religious
language of the Good News Bible and authorised version. Both are
marked by archaic language and structure (352).
3.5 GRAPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF LANGUAGE OF CHRISTIAN
RELIGION
The graphological features of the language of Christian religion can
also be said to be the general physical layout of the written materials
which may also signal phonological features. Graphologicallly, it is
important to note the
40
Crystal (153). Also there is the use of older pronunciations devices such
as colon which is not the same as in modern use.
41
CHAPTER FOUR
pray
you,
Pronoun
Verb Pronoun
Oh Lord
Noun
be
Verb
The opening and the closing formulae are we pray you Oh Lord
and Amen. The pronoun is seen in you and your . The initial vocative
42
is italised. This is used to mark the point in which the congregation join
in and say Amen after the priest has finished the prayers. The structure
throughout is traditional.
Rosary:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee blessed art
thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb
Jesus;
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and the
hour of our death Amen.
Holy Rosary Prayer Book (2).
43
Praise ye the Lord.
Catholic Hymn book (14).
44
45
of ones life for his followers. At the same time he assures us
that this is the only way that leads to eternal life there are no
shortcuts therefore any person who tries to lead us by ways
different from these is deceiving us and is a false shepherd.
Through baptism we are incorporated, engrafted into
Christ. We become shepherds indeed when we suffer ourselves
for the sake of our neighbors when we make sacrifices to their
benefits. Being good shepherd like Christ is not void of
suffering. Paul and Baranbas had share of it in Antioch in
Pisidia according to the first reading from the Acts of the
Apostles. Being a good shepherd does not go either without
reward. The second reading from the book of Revelation depicts
the place of rest where Jesus, the shepherd and the sacrificial
lamb leads his flock (shepherds of his type) into heaven.
John 1. Okoye
Sunday Bulletin (3).
46
47
living a Christian life; just as Christ did and showed the way to eternal
life.
The Subject Specific Lexis:
The subject of the passage is Christian religion .This is identified
with the use of proper nouns such as Moses ,Jacob David and
modifiers like eternal and shepherd. Abstract nouns like Victory,
success, Biblical names like risen Christ , good shepherd and God
are found in the Bible. The noun phrases are complex and these makes
the variety distinctive even though the sermon is modern.
The
risen
Christ
Determiner Adjective
is a shepherd
Noun
also to
Predicate
the
people of God
Head
Noun
Post determiner
Noun Phrase
4.3
48
iii.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you
iv.
Abide on me, and I in you, as the branch can not bear fruit of itself, expect it
abide in the vine, except you abide in me.
v.
I am the vine, you are the branches, he abides in me and I in him, for without
me you can do nothing.
vi.
If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
vii.
If you abide on me, and I in you, you shall ask what you want, and I will do it.
viii.
Here my father is glorified that you shall bear much fruit, so you shall be my
disciples.
ix.
As the father has loved me, so I have loved you: continuo in my love.
x.
If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept
my fathers commandments and abides in his love.
xi.
This is my commandment, that you may love one another, as I have loved you.
(King, James, Version Bible, John 15:I-12)
49
The
father
Determiner
Noun
My
fathers
Determiner
Adjective
{Noun
functioning as
adjective}
the
vine.
Determiner Noun
commandments.
Noun
50
attention to his human rather that his spiritual side and therefore,
makes it seem easier for his disciples to do as he does.
The Grammar of the Passage:
The word taketh, purgeth, and abideth is an archaic form of the
third person singular. This gives the traditional religious language its
distinctive tone. Modal verbs are used to reflect the meaning of shall
and might: it shall be done and my joy might remain in you . Ye
is used instead of you in the Standard English.
The Sentence Structure: The sentence structure of the sentence is
simple because of the literary tone of the Bible
Compound Sentence:
The compound sentence is seen as follow:
I am
Main clause
Subject Verb
and
my father
Co-coordinative
conjunction
Complement
Subject
Noun Phrase
Noun Phrase
is the husbandman
Main clause
Main clause
Verb
Complement
Noun Phrase
51
Complex Sentence:
The complex sentence is seen s follows:
Now
ye
are clean
through
the
Main clause
(Prepositional phrase)
Preposition Det.
Which
Adjectival clause
Noun
have
spoken
subject
Direct object
Prepositional phrase
to you
Proposition
pronoun
Adjective clause
Adv
to you.
predicate
52
53
God that your belonging or by virtue of your birth is called
heritage. If you are a servant of the Lord your heritage is
Divine immunity. Every believer is saved to serve and to
that extent, we are all servant of the lord.
Isaiah 54:17 says No weapon that is formed against you
shall proper and every tongue that shall rise against you in
judgment thou shall condemn this is the heritage of the
servant of the lord and their righteousness is of me sayeth
the lord.
Sunday Sun October 30, 2005 (42).
54
55
The same day went Jesus out of the house, sat by the see side.
ii.
And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, ship, and the whole
multitude stood on the shore.
iii.
And he spoke many things unto them in parable saying, Behold, a sower went
to sow.
iv.
And when he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside and the fowls came and
devoured them up.
v.
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and forthwith
they sprung up, because they have no deep of earth:
vi.
And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root,
they withered away.
vii.
And some fell among thorns., the thorns sprung up and choked them.
viii.
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some on hundred fold,
some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
ix.
56
x.
The disciple came and said unto him, why speakest unto them in parables.
xi.
He answered, and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given.
xii.
For whoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:
but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
[king James Version, Matthew 13:1-12].
57
Compound Sentence:
An instance of a compound sentence is seen below
Others fell
Main clause
Main clause
Conjunction
Subject Predicate
subject
predicate
(Adverbial phrase
Functioning as the
(Complement
of the
Verbal elements)
Complex Sentence:
The complex sentence is seen as follows
And
Conjunction
And
Conjunction
Sub. Clause
main clause
58
59
CHAPTER FIVE
SIMILARITIES
DIFFRENCES
60
spoken form for instance Hail Mary, while that of the Pentecostal
Denominations are not always written down.
The Roman Catholic Church observers the liturgy while the
in
their
language
use,
with
regard
to
their
worship,
Messiah, the creator of heaven and earth and the Son of the Almighty
God.
5.2 CONCLUSION
This study is an exploration into the language of Christian religion.
It has briefly examined separately the different language use of the
Catholics and the Pentecostals and have also looked at their similarities
and major differences. The language of Christian religious functions to
61
5.3
RECOMMENDATION
This project is a comparative sample survey of the language of
62
WORKS CITED
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Catholic Diocese of Enugu. Sunday Bulletin: Sixteenth Sunday of the Year. Enugu:
Cathedral Press, 18th July, 2010.
Crystal, D. and Derek, D. Investigating English Style. London: Longman, 1969.
Eneje, Michael. Roman Catholic Church and Christian Religion . Enugu: Snnap Press,
1989.
Ferguson, Everett. Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. London: Garland Publication,
1998.
Gillingham, S. E. One Bible Many Voices. Different Approaches to Biblical Studies.
Wood Books Publications, 1998.
Hastings, Adoian. The Church in Africa. London: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Hume, Basil. Good News bible. India: Swapna Printing Works TVT. Ltd, 2009.
Igbaja, Eugine. Holy Rosary Prayer Book. Enugu: Oasis Link Communication, 2008.
.
King James Version of the Bible. London: Hilson Publishers, 2005.
Lahey, John. The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism. London: Oxford
63
64
INTERNET/ELECTRONICS SOURCES
Hernngs G. History of Christianity www.gogle.com . 22nd May, 2010.
Probet Walter, Christianity, Microsoft Encarta, 2008.
.. Pentecostalism Microsoft Encarta, 2009.
Webster, Noah. Audio Dictionary of English 2010.
NEWSPAPER
Sunday Sun. Newspaper. Lagos: Sun Publishers, October 30 2010.