Spirituality as a Metaphor

September 28th, 2006 Fred McVittie Posted in Agency, D'Aquili, Eugene, Metaphor, Spirituality, Substance |

Spirituality - The application of the substance metaphor to feelings of unity, awe, and selflessness. Since feelings are inherently abstract, and can only be conceptualised through the use of concrete metaphor, such application is typical. In this case, these feelings (which Newberg and D’Aquili refer to as absolute unity of being), are conceptualised as a vaporous or liquid substance; one that moves between evansence and flow, much as a chemical spirit might behave. This substance metaphor is often combined with an anthropomorphic sense of agency applied to that substance such that the spirit is given intention and human-like attributes.