A New Semiotic Model for Analyzing Religious Discourse: From Greimas' Square to a Three- Dimensional Cube

This study seeks to reinterpret religious meaning through contemporary methodologies, aiming to present religious discourse to the world using practical and actionable frameworks. Rather than focusing solely on literal interpretation, the study explores the deeper layers of language and context. By applying semiotic analysis, the study facilitates a shift from surface structures to deeper structures, allowing symbolic meanings to emerge. In response to the growing interest in linguistic and religious studies, scholars have increasingly embraced modern approaches—building upon the foundational work of classical scholars in grammar, linguistics, and rhetoric, while integrating contemporary tools such as semiotics, the study of signs and their functions within texts. This synthesis of classical heritage and modern thought aims to clarify the role of semiotics in the analysis of religious discourse, particularly how Greimas’s semiotic square, through interpretive processes, evolves into a semiotic cube that dynamically generates meaning through semantic interaction. The study further highlights the essential role of Arabic rhetoric in symbolic interpretation, as rhetorical strategies are designed to influence and persuade audiences—an aim closely aligned with religious discourse, which seeks to promote virtue and cultivate collective ethical awareness. To support this argument, the study presents an applied model for analyzing prophetic Hadith through semiotic methods, revealing the central role of prophetic discourse in shaping the ethical and social foundations of the community. Its continuous presence in sermons, religious lessons, and educational contexts emphasizes its enduring relevance and profound influence. Among the key findings is the recognition that religious discourse is not a fixed or static text, but rather a dynamic semantic system shaped by multiple contextual factors. The shift from surface-level analysis to a deeper structural understanding enriches the interpretation of symbolic meanings and uncovers intentional dimensions often overlooked in initial readings. When applied practically rather than merely theoretically, modern approaches offer powerful tools for examining the interplay between discourse and context, contributing to a continuous renewal in religious, linguistic, and rhetorical scholarship. Arabic rhetoric plays a foundational role in shaping the semiotics of religious discourse, employing a range of stylistic techniques attuned to the audience’s context—thereby rooting the discourse within its authentic Arabic cultural framework.