Metaphor and Ideology in Nigerian Pentecostal Discourse

Previous studies on metaphor, especially within the domain of religion, have focused narrowly on its rhetorical and aesthetic values without accounting for its ideological implication. The preponderance of metaphor in religious discourse makes this gap significant. This study therefore sought to critically analyse metaphorical expressions within the context of Nigerian Pentecostalism with the goal of unveiling the ideologies enshrined therein. Forty-six metaphorical expressions were randomly sourced from an existing corpus on metaphorical expressions in Nigerian Pentecostal discourse. The corpus sourced metaphors from the sermons of three Nigerian Pentecostal clerics: Daniel Olukoya (Founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries), David Oyedepo (Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners’ Chapel) and Chris Oyakhilome (Founder and Senior Pastor of Christ’s Embassy). The metaphors were subjected to test of metaphoricity using the Pragglejazz Group (2007) Metaphor Identification Procedure. Thereafter, they were critically analysed using van Dijk’s (2009) Socio-cognitive Framework to Critical Discourse Analysis and Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory. Findings revealed four ideologies associated with Nigerian Pentecostal Christian discourse: materialistic ideology, militarist ideology, retributive ideology, and the ideology of rebirth. The study thus demonstrates that metaphors within the context of Nigerian Pentecostalism are powerful weapons of constructing and disseminating the ideologies of the Pentecostal Christian faith.