Conceptual Structure of Metaphors in Christian Discourse: A Study of Charismatic Fellowships in Machakos County
Loading...
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JOPEA
Abstract
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
Description
Article
Keywords
Citation
Kimwele, M; Gachara, M & Gimode, K. (2025). Conceptual Structure of Metaphors in Christian Discourse: A Study of Charismatic Fellowships in Machakos County. Journal of Popular Education in Africa. 9(1), 20 – 33.