Paper short abstract:

In this paper I intend to consider the embodied and emotional aspects of becoming and being a believer and articulating faith among evangelical Christians.

Paper long abstract:

In evangelical Christianity, specific speech practices have a significant role in articulating one's faith. Bible-based language is employed to express one's evangelical identity as well as to convert non-evangelicals. This emphasis on verbal practices has left unduly little attention to sensuous aspects of being and becoming an evangelical Christian.

In this paper, my aim is to take a closer look at nonverbal facets of manifesting religious identity on the example of an evangelical community in Komi Republic, Russia. On the one hand, I intend to consider references to emotional and even bodily felt changes that are invoked in describing subjective conversion and faith. On the other hand, I am interested in how certain kind of behavioural and emotional conduct are seen to enable evaluating others' commitment to evangelical faith. Furthermore, displaying positive emotions and acting altruistically are thought to be effective methods in bringing new people to God. I will also ponder how, in spite of central place of speech in evangelical practices, verbalising religious experiences can be challenging for people and moreover, how emotional and behavioural comportment are sometimes considered more reliable than speaking.