Metaphor and Symbolism: possiblity of iconic theology

Abstract

In language and literature, metaphors and symbolism are both used to communicate complex ideas and emotions that are more than what is seen on the surface. Metaphors create connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, while as well as how they can be used to analyse theological contexts and apply them to society. The term “metaphor” comes from the ancient Greek word metapherein, where meta means “beyond,” and pherein means “to transfer” or “to carry over.” Essentially, a metaphor is a linguistic process by which one thing is “transferred” or “carried over” to another thing. This means that one thing is described as another to reveal certain characteristics of the first thing. Aristotle explicitly defined it in Poetics as “using a word that signifies one thing to refer to another; this word then becomes a metaphorical word.” Metaphor is not just a linguistic process but also a fundamental way of thinking about and understanding things.