Religious Language Research Articles

The Roles of Religious Language in Building Faith and Religious Communities

Drawing on the theoretical work of Tannen (2021) on cross-cultural communication and Irvine (2022) on language ideology, this research explores the function of religious language in promoting religious groups and strengthening faith. The aim is to understand how religious settings, like sermons, rituals, and counseling, utilize language to strengthen convictions and cultivate a sense of community. To thoroughly investigate language dynamics, qualitative research employs participant observation and interviews. This research reveals rhetorical methods and devices used to reinforce common ideas, elicit emotions, and transmit messages via an analysis of language used in sermons, rituals, and counseling. The results provide insight into the ways that religious language influences community and religion. Comprehending these linguistic processes helps shed light on the function of language in religious settings and adds to the conversation about how language, culture, and social dynamics interact. The research offers insightful insights into the intricate link between language, belief systems, and social cohesiveness, as well as a thorough investigation of the role that religious language plays in fostering religion and communities.

Salvation, Enlightenment and Awakening in Shaping Followers' Perception and Understanding of Their Faith: A Linguistic Exploration

This paper examines how religious concepts of salvation, enlightenment, and awakening shape followers’ perception and understanding of their faith. Drawing on theories of language ideology (Woolard, 1998) and linguistic structuration (Giddens, 1979), it explores how linguistic and conceptual variations surrounding these key terms influence religious worldviews. A mixed methods approach integrates comparative-historical case studies, interviews, surveys, and textual analysis of three religious’ denominations. Findings reveal ideological divergences in the metaphorical framing of the key concepts, relating to differences in perceived resonances and definitions among followers. The study demonstrates that religious conceptual systems transmit between contexts via semiotic processes of indexicality and erasure, undergoing shifts in meaning. These ideological variations in turn contribute to divergent understandings of core principles across faith traditions. Ultimately, illuminating conceptual divergences and the symbolic processes by which they spread provides vital insight into religion’s cultural logic and diversity. The research contributes to theoretical models of religious language’s co-constitutive relationship with thought and experience. It offers an empirical approach employing cognitive linguistics and the sociology of religion to promote understanding across belief systems in an increasingly pluralistic world.

The Forgotten Language of Nontheistic Mysticism: Religious Factors in Erich Fromm’s Humanism

In You Shall Be as Gods, Erich Fromm (1900–1980) defines his position as nontheistic mysticism. This research clarifies the term, considers its importance within Fromm’s humanism, and explores its potential origins. The nontheistic mystical position plays a central role in Fromm’s understanding of the relationship between mysticism and organized religion, religion and religiosity, and it clarifies the relationship between religion, philosophy, and social psychoanalysis, whose combination constitutes his humanistic ethics. Nontheistic mysticism relates, as well, to Fromm’s understanding of human nature; it involves the question of the relationship between language, perception, and experience. The nontheistic mystical position is linked to Fromm’s negative theology, the x experience, and idolatry. Hence, the nontheistic mystical position is relevant to Fromm’s understanding of self-realization and his vision of a sane society. Unlike some scholarly opinion, the conclusions of this paper suggest that Fromm’s humanism is not radical, as long as radical is defined as an absolute atheistic secular feature that eliminates the range of religious language and experience. Rather, it is a broad and cautious humanism that, on the one hand, internalizes the transcendent divinity into the human subject and transforms it into anthropological–ethical phenomena, but, on the other, implies that atheism carries the risk of an idolatrous identification of the human being with God. Consequently, this humanism requires a religious–mystical component to adequately portray the spiritual and ethical potentials of humanity and its challenges. Nontheistic mysticism is a consciousness mechanism aimed at the fine-tuning of the individual’s moral compass, which is affected by the pathologies of normalcy that prevail in all societies.

Augustine on music as the harmonious language of spirituality: An apophatic theological study

This article arose from the study of apophatic theology also known as the via-negativa. Apophatic theology, by definition, refrains from stating what and who God is instead of focusing on what God is not. It renders religious language as a sign-system inadequate in describing God, his nature, and human numinous experiences. Yet, language is the fundamental modelling system that stimulates our everyday phenomenological, spiritual, and religious developments. This article is demonstrating how the apophatic theological view attempted to solve or investigate the inadequacy of religious language or the lack of God’s language. The research drew from contemporary scholarship on Augustine’s use of apophatic theology in developing its hypothesis of the importance of music as a transcendental language. Moreover, through music and prayer, language becomes an intermediary beyond the physical to the metaphysical. In this instance, Augustine of Hippo, coming to terms with the inadequacy of religious language, considered music a succinct communicative tool in his theology and divine pedagogy. So, due to the challenges of language, the purpose of this article is using Augustine and his view of music within the Sitz im Leben of his spiritual development to solve a theological problem. In this article, the following will be discussed: (1) Augustine’s Confessions as a dialogue where he speaks to God through Scriptures and hymns; (2) Augustine’s earlier philosophical theory of music; (3) and Augustine’s use of apophatic theology in our spiritual development. The importance of this research will help us understand God’s immanence (over his ineffable) through our use and understanding of music as a harmonious language consisting of unchanging mathematical properties. Furthermore, the truthfulness of music as a harmonious language about God’s mystery can be better understood.Contribution: Through Augustine’s apophatic theology, this study contributes to our understanding and revitalisation of spirituality using music as an alternative form of harmonious language of the spirit. Moreover, it considers music a universal language that transcends all senses and other modes of cognitive activities. By establishing a basic principle of what makes us spiritual, we can transform our cognitive abilities and become better spiritual beings. Furthermore, this study examined the harmonic nature of music in the seven liberal arts as a significant mathematical aspect of the cosmos.

UPAYA MENANAMKAN NILAI-NILAI PROFETIK PADA ANAK USIA DINI MELALUI CERITA SIRAH NABAWIYAH

Sirah Nabawiyah is an existence that is targeted to be taught to children from an early age. This needs to be developed by instilling prophetic values, namely through the story of Sirah Nabawiyah. Especially for children at an early age who should be instilled and taught learning based on the Al-Qur'an and the Hadith of the Prophet. The aim of this research is to examine the instilling of prophetic values ​​in young children through the story of Sirah Nabawiyah. The research was conducted in a city in Palangka Raya, precisely in the province of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The research method used is qualitative. Data collection was obtained through observation, interviews and documents. The data analysis method uses the example of Miles, Huberman and Saldana which is carried out in three stages, namely data analysis by combining data, displaying data and drawing conclusions. The results of this research reveal that efforts to apply prophetic principles in childhood through the Sirah Nabawiyah story can contribute to the development of moral and religious values, language development, character formation and children's memory. The story of Sirah Nabawiyah for children is not only for knowing the story of Sirah Nabawiyah, but can increase children's love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW and learn about the Prophet's struggle in spreading the message of Islam, apart from that, children are also expected to be able to apply and emulate it in their daily lives.

Intricacies of Religious Language in Shaping the Mindset of Adherents during COVID-19: A Study of Churches in Calabar

Religious language has the potential to shape the mindsets of human beings. Further, it is probable that religious utterances will affect adherents’ responses to real-life situations. With the aid of speech-act theory, this article investigates how religious utterances used by church leaders in framing public discourse modified some social perceptions of Christians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research shows the impacts and limitations of speech-act theory concerning the influence of church leaders over their adherents during the COVID-19 era. In dialogue with the CAN-CRS Report, the research shows that some Christians differed from their pastors on certain COVID-19 related issues.

Going Upstream: Poetic Attention and Religious Resonance

The poetry of Mary Oliver is used here as an example of how, for many people who have not encountered religious language or been part of a faith community, poems can have what might be termed a ‘religious resonance’. The poet’s art of attention is identified as a primary tool for replacing the traditional role that religion has played in human communities and consciousness – exploring the sense of life as a gift from a transcendent source, infusing intuitions of meaning into experience and confronting us with ethical demands.

Writing Faith into Poetry

A poet’s essay, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges of writing poetry in metaphysical territory (and the difficulty of finding terms to define this territory) at a time when much traditional religious language is no longer widely used or shared.

The “Global” Deception: Flat-Earth Conspiracy Theory between Science and Religion

The article focuses on flat earthism, one of the most well-known contemporary conspiracy theories in popular culture. According to proponents of this theory, which has found a growing international following in recent years, political institutions such as the U.S. government and scientific institutions such as NASA would operate to deceive humanity about the real shape of our planet and the universe in which we live. In countering the data acquired by modern science and common sense knowledge, flat earthism stands as a heterodox theory and a radical critique of the authority of socially legitimized epistemic institutions. This article consists of two parts. The first part will offer a genealogical reconstruction of the flat-earth conspiracy, tracing its history from the 19th century to the exponents of the current movement. The second part will delve into the discourse of the proponents of flat earthism with specific reference to the Italian context, through documentary analysis of recent publications and online material available on YouTube and Telegram, which constitute some of the main channels for the discussion and dissemination of flat earthism in Italy today. On the basis of the data collected and analyzed, it will be shown how flat earthism represents a paradigmatic case of superconspiracy, that is, of a far-reaching theory capable of linking and including within itself a set of other, more circumscribed theories. To this end, flat earthism elaborates on a discourse that ambivalently combines two registers, scientific and religious language, proposing itself as a dissident narrative that if on the one hand rejects the knowledge of institutionalized and organized science and religion, on the other hand accredits an alternative and anti-intellectualist path of knowledge, accessible to the “common man” that aims to create a space of autonomy and opposition to the processes of secularization and globalization in which the flat earthers see the project of building a dystopian New World Order.

The Language Games of Canon Law: Strategic Ambiguity Between Law and Religion

Abstract The continental tradition of modern positive law, with its attempt to formulate clear legal rules, tends to be suspicious of ambiguity and struggles with the productive power of the untranslatable. Opaque kernels that inevitably remain in laws seem risky and call for disambiguation—through legislation, the courts, or administration. Yet despite this struggle against ambiguity, laws, as texts made of language, not only remain essentially ambiguous, but often require ambiguity when regulating for plural groups. In global legal orders, such as Roman Catholic canon law, we can observe that ambiguity is used strategically to allow for the inclusion of plural legal cultures. Adding to this, canon law fosters its opaqueness by meandering between secular and religious language games, thus playing with the semantic surplus of religion for the sake of cultivating ambiguity. This ambiguity management is itself ambiguous. It is inclusive, allowing plural communities to exist under the roof of Catholicism, but it is also open to the authorities’ arbitrary decisions undermining legal certainty as a core value of modern law.

Integration Challenges in France: Examining Policies and Xenophobia Impacting East Asian Communities

This study examines French integration policies and their impact on cultural diversity and the prevalence of xenophobic attitudes within society. Through a literature exploration and review of historical, sociocultural, and policy-driven dimensions, the study investigates the integration challenges confronted by immigrants and their descendants in integrating into French society. The review highlights the deficiencies inherent in current integration strategies, highlighting disparities in employment, healthcare access, and the perpetuation of discriminatory attitudes, notably targeting the East Asian community. Despite claims of colorblindness, the French legal system tacitly endorses xenophobic laws that prioritize a homogeneous society, expecting uniformity in religious observances and language among citizens. Regrettably, these policies have hindered the ability of many immigrants and their progeny to flourish within French society, evident in educational and employment statistics. Drawing parallels with successful integration models such as Canada's multicultural approach, this paper advocates for a fundamental shift in French policies, stressing inclusivity and cultural diversity over a push for homogeneity. By addressing systemic disparities, recognizing and valuing cultural distinctions, and implementing more efficacious integration measures, France can strive toward a more cohesive and harmonious society that benefits immigrants and the indigenous population alike. This can align with the global trend towards embracing cultural diversity as an asset, offering a promising path towards a more unified and equitable French society.

A comparative analysis of six national cultures under the umbrella of the Hofstede’s model

The present study represents a comparative analysis between the national cultures of six countries: Tunisia, Germany, China, Mexico, Pakistan and the USA. The overall results of this analytical research indicated that in the light of the Hofstede’s model foundations, Tunisia, Pakistan and Mexico resemble each other to a great extent. Indeed, even if they are geographically far from each other and residing in three different continents, their corresponding national cultures based on religious values, social organization, and language seem similar. Conversely, Germany, China and the US share similar cultural features, even if China is known by its collectivism. Such findings offer cross cultural opportunities and challenges for business leaders and entrepreneurs who are willing to do business in these countries.

Jewish Mysticism as a Form of Feminism in Early 20th Century Hungarian Jewish Literature: Anna Lesznai’s Response to Otto Weininger

This article examines Anna Lesznai’s radical imagining of sex and its use for transcendental purposes that heavily rely on Jewish mystical ideas intertwined with Otto Weininger's theory of gender binarism. In her gender theory—part of feminist discourse at the turn of the twentieth century—Lesznai describes female love, using religious language and ideas from Jewish mysticism, especially those resembling Hassidic concepts, and ultimately compares sexual union to yihud- unio mystica with God. Working within the patriarchal understanding of the biological definition of gender and of the concept of "female difference," Lesznai’s feminism rooted in the belief that certain personality traits and skills are inherently gendered, but she reverses the hierarchy by placing women in the position of power, thus turning Jewish mysticism and Weininger’s gender philosophy on its head.

Contesting Chaosmos: (Re)Viewing Medieval Aesthetics

This article analyses the hermeneutic dispute of the contemporary value of medieval aesthetics within the writing of two giants in the 20th century—Umberto Eco and Hans Urs von Balthasar. I claim that Eco’s Joycean adaptation of medieval aesthetics uses religious language to insert a permanent, postmodern aesthetic dismantling of cosmic form. I argue that Balthasar’s reading of Dante challenges the limits that Eco frames as inherent within the medieval cosmos, and that Balthasar offers an adaptive medieval aesthetics that rebuts the religious overhaul Eco demands. This debate amplifies the flexibility of aesthetics based on form to attune to contemporary concerns while remaining faithful to the fundamental religious commitments of Christian tradition.

Tantangan dan Peluang Pendidikan Bahasa Arab: Perspektif Global

Abstract: This research presents an in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities in Arabic language education, with a focus on a global perspective. Arabic plays a crucial role on the international stage, serving not only as a religious language but also as a language of culture, science, and administration. However, Arabic language education in various countries faces several challenges that can impact the quality of learning and student comprehension. This literature review investigates some key challenges in Arabic language education, including non-aligned curricula, insufficient learning resources, and issues in developing Arabic language skills. Meanwhile, the research also highlights opportunities that can be utilized to enhance Arabic language education, such as the use of innovative educational technology, inter-institutional collaboration, and the promotion of cultural exchange programs. By analyzing various concepts and findings in related literature, this research provides profound insights into the global conditions of Arabic language education. By understanding the challenges faced and leveraging existing opportunities, effective strategies can be formulated to improve the quality of Arabic language education worldwide. This research is expected to contribute to the development of more holistic and sustainable Arabic language education policies, as well as motivate practical steps to enhance the teaching and learning of Arabic globally.

Memory, Religion, and Authoritarianism in Post (1994)-Genocide Rwanda

This article attempts to theorise governmental efforts of the Kagame regime to construct a common national identity that precariously hinges on the adoption of an official revisionist history. Guided by Jan Assmann’s theory of cultural memory and Maurice Halbwachs’ collective memory, it may be argued the government’s official narrative of Rwanda’s idyllic history is a strategy for securing Rwanda’s future by linking it to an ancestral past. This narrative is largely supported by museums and the frozen memories of Tutsi returnees — to the exclusion of competing narratives — as materialised and publicly disseminated through traditional dances and tandemly pursued through private spaces through infiltration and closure of churches and mosques. However, per Rebekah Phillips DeZalia, a new version of history must successfully replace the former in the personal narratives of the people and not simply control public discourse through a top-down approach. Hence, the Kagame regime is also utilising a bottom-up strategy of infiltrating day-to-day, intimate spaces — one of which is religious spaces by both exploiting and curbing religious influence, appropriating religious language, and referencing the divine right of kings — all which are designed to sustain public confidence in the possibility of post-1994 genocide reconciliation and to realise Kagame’s vision of a unified and prosperous Rwanda. The regime’s strategy involves inverting the overall passage of personal memory to collective memory to history as well as repressing memory in official memorials by excluding narratives that contradict or do not legitimise the Kagame regime’s agenda. This tandem manipulation and suppression of memory is aided by the aggressive campaign of church and mosque infiltrations as well as closures, respectively, which may be functionally understood using Thomas Luckmann’s notions of invisible religion (Rwandan government) as competing with visible religions (Christianity and Islam). These government strategies are detrimental to the trauma-coping potential of visible religions and undermines reconciliation — highlighting the fragile architecture of Kagame’s authoritarian vision for peace.

Allah, God, YHWH, Gott*: Language-Aware Perspectives on References to God in Religious and Worldview Education. A Comparative Study of Finnish and German School Textbooks

Abstract Language awareness is part of religious and worldview education. In this study, we understand religious and worldview education as language-sensitive and argue that it is necessary to investigate the perspectives on religious language in language-aware school pedagogy. In our view, religious language can be an identity marker which navigates and reflects one’s position. We analysed the language used in Finnish and German secondary school textbooks for the Lutheran religion, the Roman Catholic religion and for Islam as well as for the subject culture, worldview and ethics (Finland) and practical philosophy (Germany). Using discourse analysis, we examined the representations of God in the textbooks’ chapters about Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which are characterized as monotheistic religions. According to the findings in this study, representations of God in the textbooks refer to the self-understanding of the studied religion in RE. This study also shows that the use of the name of God in textbooks illustrates similarities and differences in Abrahamic religions. We argue that inter-worldview learning in the context of religious and worldview education enables participation, dialogue and encounter, and that language awareness is part of inter-worldview learning.

An introduction to religious language exploring theolinguistics in contemporary contexts

An introduction to religious language exploring theolinguistics in contemporary contexts

Against theological readings of Sartre

AbstractThis essay addresses ‘the God‐haunted Atheist paradox’ in Sartre's early philosophy and argues against a series of efforts to show that Sartre maintains a ‘secular theology’. It shows that if Sartre's ontology is correct, the God of ‘classic theism’ cannot possibly exist. It argues against two sophisticated efforts to show that theological influences infiltrate Sartre's early ontology and permeate his moral psychology. It also rejects the claim that Sartre's (Existentialism is a Humanism, 1946/2007, Yale University Press) distinction between secular and religious existentialism ‘has no basis in fact’. It shows that Sartre appropriates religious language in order to give debunking secular explanations for religious phenomena and that he inverts traditional Christian values. It concludes that Sartre is an anti‐theologian.

الدعاء مخ العبادة : Pragmatic Study of Supplication in Prophetic Hadiths

The dual nature of supplication as both expressive and directive speech acts presents a challenge in understanding how religious language conveys feelings like trust, hope, and confidence while invoking a higher authority. Thus, this paper attempts to investigate the pragmatic behavior of supplication in Arabic Prophetic hadiths. Based on Searle’ (1969, 1979) model of speech acts, 25 Prophetic hadiths are selected to be pragmatically analyzed in terms of a mixed research method. The findings reveal that expressive acts manifest emotional pleas for strength and forgiveness, while directive acts focus on requests for divine help. This in turn highlights the dual function of supplication, as it serves both personal reflection and an appeal for action from God. This entails that Prophetic hadiths tend to evince morals and spiritual guidance.