An application of Kenneth Burke’s Guilt-Redemption Cycle is used in conjunction with Neil Smelser’s Theory of Collective Behavior to construct an argument for an analogy between the Early Christian Church and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, specifically at Kent State University. The argument focuses on rhetorical actions and the progression of social movements while taking into consideration each movement’s respective period in history. Application of the theories found that there are analogous events between the Early Christian Church and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement. The analogy is further analyzed by using Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad as well as comparing rhetorical artifacts.

Key words: Kenneth Burke, Neil Smelser, Guilt-Redemption Cycle, Theory of Collective Behavior, Early Christian Church, Kent State University