Crafting the divine: How metaphors shape religious language

This research investigates the various purposes of metaphors in religious discourse. We will investigate the extent to which we can understand metaphorical language as irreducible. First, we will assert that metaphors convey more than just propositional contents. Their goals also frame their imagistic perspective that cannot be limited to a literal paraphrase. Moreover, in situations where plain language fails, they employ metaphors to bridge expression gaps. A detailed metaphorical concept will clarify the function of catachresis. With those metaphors, we can communicate things that we cannot conceptually isolate from a given utterance. Thus, with such analogies, we can transcend the boundaries of our conceptual repertory, which is absolutely essential for religious language. Finally, the results of the previous discussions about how metaphors can't be changed will be looked at in light of the radical view that all statements about God are inherently and irreducibly metaphorical if they are taken seriously.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Religion and Linguistics
Published
2025-03-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31763/11
Primary Topic
Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Crafting the divine: How metaphors shape religious language

Jacob Floyd Hasselbaink
Journal of Religion and Linguistics
Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
article

Crafting the divine: How metaphors shape religious language

Jacob Floyd Hasselbaink
article en

Abstract

This research investigates the various purposes of metaphors in religious discourse. We will investigate the extent to which we can understand metaphorical language as irreducible. First, we will assert that metaphors convey more than just propositional contents. Their goals also frame their imagistic perspective that cannot be limited to a literal paraphrase. Moreover, in situations where plain language fails, they employ metaphors to bridge expression gaps. A detailed metaphorical concept will clarify the function of catachresis. With those metaphors, we can communicate things that we cannot conceptually isolate from a given utterance. Thus, with such analogies, we can transcend the boundaries of our conceptual repertory, which is absolutely essential for religious language. Finally, the results of the previous discussions about how metaphors can't be changed will be looked at in light of the radical view that all statements about God are inherently and irreducibly metaphorical if they are taken seriously.

Journal of Religion and LinguisticsVol. 2(1)
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
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