A social construction of reality evident in the discourse of Jehovah\u27s Witnesses

I provide a description, analysis, and interpretation of the social reality constructed by the discourse of Jehovah\u27s Witnesses. I utilize a qualitative-interpretive approach for my exploration into a social reality. My purpose is to determine how the textual and contextual reality of Jehovah\u27s Witnesses influences their lives and courses of action. I identify in Chapter I the focus of the dissertation, discuss the theoretical framework of the social construction of reality, and explicate the method used to illuminate the social reality of Jehovah\u27s Witnesses. Chapter II has two primary sections. First, I provide a description of the Witnesses\u27 history, including beliefs, standards, terminology. Second, I provide a review of literature concerning social issues involving Jehovah\u27s Witnesses, the intersection of research on religion and language, research involving religious-communication genres, and research addressing Jehovah\u27s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society. I illuminate in Chapter III the reality I interpret as emerging in Witness\u27 discourse. The description section articulates a reeality composed of three world formations--Satan\u27s World, Witness\u27 World, and Jehovah\u27s World. The analysis section posits Witness\u27 reality is composed of three primary themes including visual, family, and foundation. The interpretation section focuses on what I identify as the processes of splitting and bridging occurring in the discourse. Chapter IV focuses on how this dissertation strengthens our understanding of the subjectivity of social reality within the realm of discursive constructionism. The breadth and diversity of the categories, patterns, and themes in the analysis section of Chapter III illuminate the plurality and the subjectivity--the polysemy--of discursive constructed realities. I argue an independent and objective reality removes a realm of responsibility from humans for what occurs in their lives. A rhetorical-constructionist perspective forces persons to actively engage in an analysis and interpretation of reality, and to involve themselves in how reality is perceived and understood. I address implications for both the Watch Tower Society and the communication discipline