INTERTEXTUAL PRACTICES IN THE SERMONS OF A SINGAPORE "PROSPERITY GOSPELLER"

Abstract

THIS STUDY AIMS TO DETERMINE HOW THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL, A MODERN FORM OF CHRISTIANITY ORIGINATING FROM THE USA IS REARTICULATED IN THE SERMONS OF A SINGAPOREAN FAITH PASTOR TO CONVERGE WITH THE LOCAL CONTEXT. USING A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS APPROACH, IT HOPES TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SERMONS REFLECTS THE HYBRIDIZATION PROCESS WHERE DIFFERENT GENRES, DISCOURSES AND STYLES ARE FUSED TOGETHER TO ARTICULATE A DIFFERENT AND MODERN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY THAT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE MATERIAL PURSUITS OF ITS BELIEVERS THUS MAKING IT AN ATTRACTIVE RELIGION.