Metaphorical and operational aspects of religious thinking: research with Irish Catholic pupils (Part 2)

Abstract

This is the second part of an article which reports on research carried out with post‐primary Roman Catholic pupils in the Republic of Ireland into the relationship between the operational and the metaphorical dimensions of religious thinking. As reported in part one of the article (Vol.16 No.3, Summer 1994, pp.148‐163), research using the Metaphor and Model Test of Religious Thinking (MMTRT) indicated that at no stage of development was a high level of association found between operational religious thinking and five categories of metaphoric religious thinking (recognition, comprehension, production, elaboration and interrelation). This finding differs from the suggestion of previous research by Goldman (1962, 1964) that formal operational thinking is a prerequisite for metaphorical thinking. Goldman's stance was largely based upon his analysis of responses to the story of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. In this second part of the article a partial replication and development of the Goldman research using this story is reported, and the results contrasted with those reported for the MMTRT in part one of the article. Implications drawn from the full research project for the teaching of religion are also outlined.