Devotee/Ethnographer: My Struggle at the Boundary Walls of Participant Observation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

It would appear that a stronger placement of self, including religious beliefs, would strengthen the introduction and allow the reader to better understand the authors bias and/or passion. Lines 141-142 could be moved up in the introduction.

Interesting article with promise. Some of the sentence structure is disconcerting and makes for reading difficulty in parts. Why are so many sentences begun with 'but'?

It might be helpful for the author to read Jessica Johnson's book 'Biblical Porn' for an example of religious participant observation by an anthropologist.

 

Author Response

I have made the following changes in the revised manuscript in response to the comments by reviewer 1:

1. Added a bit on my own religious and political location, thus clarifying the motivations behind this autoethnographic journey.
2.  I have moved up lines 141- 142 to the top, into the Introduction.
3. I have included a citation of Jessica Johnson's 2018 book Biblical Porn.
4. I have tried to simplify the language to an extent.

Reviewer 2 Report

This is a thoughtful reflection that offers vivid descriptions and pertinent insight. The article could be strengthened by adding citations to lines 187 and 333. In addition, the key findings get a bit lost in the text. A succinct introduction to the devotee/ethnographer section or tight conclusion toward the end of the article would make these important observations more visible and digestible to the reader.

Author Response

I have made the following changes in the revised manuscript in response to the comments by Reviewer 2:

1. I have added citations to lines 187 and 333 as advised.
2. I have made the Conclusion clearer.
3. I have added some clarificatory sentences in the beginning of the Devotee/Ethnographer section.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Changes made by author help comprehensibility.