MULTIMODAL SEMIOTICS OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES: REPRESENTING BELIEFS, METAPHORS, AND ACTIONS

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19    (Lakoff 1996) describes the Strict Father Model and the Nurturing Parent Model in political reasoning, a

dichotomy useful for religious reasoning as well.

in Mama’s religious conceptual system, her earthly father maps onto her heavenly Father. One was
physically big and the Other is big, powerful. Throughout our interview it’s clear that she’s able to go
beyond her father’s faults, remembering how he guided and protected her, and was indeed a nurturing
parent; because of the blend, her view of God the Father is analogous.

20    Edward’s conceptual system, on the other hand, presents an example of the Strict Father Model. His

biological father was a drug-addict, and he doesn’t talk very highly of him during our interview, yet it is
clear that Edward feels his loss.

in this clip which reveals his source domain Father, i ask Edward if he’s ever seen God, and at the end he
gives a vivid description of his vision, and notice his gestures which will be analogous to his drawing of
God the Father. it is interesting that, although he’s initially talking about Christ’s Father, he becomes
emotional, and it seems as though he’s talking more about the source domain of earthly father than the
target domain of heavenly father.

X    [CLIP edward-father-son 1’07’’]

Clip 4: Edward (00:15:14 - 00:16:20)

1. YeahIhavebut

2. That guy’s he’s kinda tight so %laugh:

3. He’s like / kind of a meanie or %laugh-“ whatever %laugh

4.                                                                 Who's this?

5. The Lord Jehu or / Christ’s father (1.5)

6. So he he’s yeah he does that so /

7.                                       Now what's the difference between the Father and the Son?

8. %sniff (1.5) %exhale / He’s almighty /

9. Hecreate / ya know he could take something and make this into an animal %laugh:

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