According to Titon--a foundational figure in folklore and ethnomusicology--a re-orientation away from a world of texts and objects and toward a world of sound connections will reveal the basis of a universal kinship.
Focusing on the language of faith, the work explores how specialized vocabulary shapes the religious practices of the Fellowship Independent Baptist Church, reflecting southern Appalachian beliefs. Jeff Todd Titon examines the community's expressions during key activities such as salvation, prayer, preaching, teaching, and singing, revealing the intricate relationship between language and religious experience.