Beyond Convergence: A Conceptual Metaphor Analysis of Angels and the Devil in the Quran, Bible, and Tanakh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol22.Iss3/Pt3.1944Keywords:
Conceptual Metaphor Theory, cognitive linguistics, angels, Devil, comparative religionAbstract
This paper presented a conceptual metaphor analysis of angels and the Devil in three major monotheistic scriptures the Quran, the Bible, and the Tanakh. The study is based on the conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) and the theory of deliberate metaphor (DMT) and takes a systematic approach to identifying, classifying, and comparing metaphorical constructions related to angels and the Devil in the Quran, Bible, and Tanakh utilizing a qualitative method. Although a superficial reading could be tempting to propose convergence in all these scriptures; with all of them having an Abrahamic background, upon a close comparative reading, the conceptual metaphor will vary in many ways with regard to their source domains, such as the Quranic metaphors emphasize divine sovereignty, Biblical metaphors focus on cosmic eschatology, whereas Tanakhic metaphors operate within a juridical-covenantal framework. These differences are not just about language, but are about entirely different theological cosmologies, anthropologies and conceptions of the relations between deities and humans. The work is relevant to the interdisciplinary field of cognitive linguistics, comparative religion and discourse analysis.
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