Misreading America - Scriptures and Difference

"MisReading America presents original research on and conversation about reading formations in American communities of color, using the phenomenon of the reading of scriptures--''scripturalizing''--as analytical wedge. Scriptures here are understood and as shorthand for complex social phenomena, practices, and dynamics. The authors take up scripturalizing as a window onto the self-understandings, politics, practices, and orientations of marginalized communities. These communities have in common the context that is the United States, with the challenges it holds for all regarding: pressure to conform to conventional-canonical forms of communication, representation, and embodiment (mimicry); opportunities to speak back to and confront and overturn conventionality (interruptions); and the need to experience ongoing meaningful and complex relationships (reorientation) to the centering politics, practices, and myths that define ''America.''"--

List of contents

• Acknowledgments


• Contributors


• Introduction: Knowing Ex-Centrics, Ex-Centric Knowing - Vincent L. Wimbush


• Chapter 1: Native Evangelicals and Scriptural Ethnologies - Andrea Smith


• Chapter 2: Scriptures as Sundials in African American Lives - Velma E. Love


• Chapter 3: Reading the Word in America: U.S. Latino/a Religious Communities and Their Scriptures - Efrain Agosto


• Chapter 4: Asian Americans, Bible Believers: An Ethnological Study - Tat-siong Benny Liew


• Chapter 5: Maronite Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Sunni Muslims from the Arab Region: Between Empire, Racialization, and Assimilation - Nadine Naber and Matthew Stiffler


• Appendix 1: Chapter 1: Research Information


• Appendix 2.1: Chapter 4: Interview Questionnaire


• Appendix 2.2: Chapter 4: Collaborators/Research Team Members


• Appendix 2.3: Chapter 4: Interviewee List (With Pseudonyms)


• Bibliography


• Index

About the author

Vincent L. Wimbush is Professor of Religion and Director of the Institute for Signifying Scriptures at Claremont Graduate University.

Product details

• Authors: Lalruatkima , Melissa Renee Lalruatkima Reid, Melissa Renee Reid, Vincent L. Wimbush
• Assisted by: Lalruatkima (Editor), Lalruatkima (Editor), Melissa Renee Reid (Editor), Reid Melissa Renee (Editor), Vincent L. Wimbush (Editor), Wimbush Vincent L. (Editor)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.08.2013
• EAN: 9780199975419
• ISBN: 978-0-19-997541-9
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Geschichte, USA, Ethnic Studies, HISTORY / General, RELIGION / History, HISTORY / United States / General, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / History & Culture, History - General History, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, History of Religion, Sacred texts, United States of America, USA, History of the Americas, Sacred texts, scriptures and revered writings, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General