On the Metonymic Structure of Religious Experiences: The Example of Charismatic Christianity

Features of charismatic Christian thought & practice are discussed drawing on ethnographic data from South Africa & the US. Charismatic Christianity is a religion of change that highlights surrender, literalness, & imagination, representing a shift in emphasis from symbol (cognitive & emotional) to sign (experiential & imaginative), or from metaphor to metonym. In metaphors, the symbol A simply stands for B by arbitrary association. In metonyms, A stands for, indicates, & suggests B. This experience of religion based on personal relationships with God & humans through signs is challenging scientific methods, religious theories, & perceptions of religiosity. 1 Figure, 37 References. M. Lemons