Through the rhetorical looking‐glass: Consensus theory and fairy tales in the epistemology of communication—A reply to Bineham

This critique seeks to uncover issues in rhetorical epistemology whose significance transcends religious communication and commitment, though remarks are confined mostly to the context of Bineham's essay. The critique includes an examination of consensus‐based epistemology as a model for understanding religious belief, and an exploration of the theory of meaning reflected in Bineham's essay. These permit a discussion of the implications of Bineham's position for rhetorical criticism and a generalization about the adequacy of consensus doctrine for illuminating all forms of discursive activity.