Since the days of antiquity, people have consulted Aristotle’s work, Rhetoric, and used its theories to overcome political enemies. Rhetorical scrutiny was directed particularly at new religious movements that paved new paths to Rod. Separated by nearly two millennia, early Christianity and Mormonism both struggled against a tide of polemicists’ criticisms. This presentation compares the rhetorical methods enemies of both movements used to attempt to destroy their growth and work. Using Aristotle to analyze how each method was carefully employed, this work reveals what exactly these methods were and why they were effective then – and now

Shawn Bennion