Browsing by Author "Muthusi Kimwele"

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    Conceptual Structure of Metaphors in Christian Discourse: A Study of Charismatic Fellowships in Machakos County
    (JOPEA, 2025) Muthusi Kimwele; Mwangi Gachara; Khadi Gimode
    Religious metaphors are valuable for enriching communication and fostering a deep spiritual connection. Interpreting religious metaphors may, however, be difficult due to their cultural distinctions and context-dependent meanings. It is against this backdrop that this study employed the principle of conceptual mappings to analyze the religious metaphors commonly used by the clergy in charismatic fellowships in Machakos County. The research was anchored within descriptive research design. Primary data was collected through audio recordings of sermons in charismatic fellowships in Machakos County. The collected data were transcribed, translated, and then subjected to the Metaphor Identification Procedure Vrije Universiteit (MIPVU) in which four annotators were used to identify religious metaphors. Eight religious metaphors that are commonly used by the clergy to express their message in charismatic fellowships in Machakos County were identified through MIPVU. The religious metaphors were then subjected to the principle of conceptual mappings to reveal their meaning. The article reveals that most pastors in charismatic fellowships use religious metaphors to not only illustrate religious concepts and inspire faith, but also to connect scripture to everyday life experiences. Furthermore, use of religious metaphors enhance understanding and emotional engagement within congregations. The study concludes that religious metaphors are useful tools of communication and should be interpreted within the Cognitive Linguistics framework