Religion is a Metaphor

June 6, 2013 

It seems to me that religion is a metaphor.   Religion, because I believe the word is a metaphor, represents.  What religion represents, what religion is a metaphor for is, of course, chosen.  A metaphor, by definition, is a word that is used to describe (represent) what the metaphor’s user wants the metaphor to represent (describe).

Then, with religion being a metaphor, religion is a symbol that represents something else.  Religion is not literally anything, any one specific thing (act, being, state, organization, community, truth, falsehood), but a symbol, a representation, a description of something else.

So, when the word religion is used ask what the word religion represents.  What does the word symbolize when it is used?  When a person says he is religious, what does the person mean with the word religious?  What is the person attempting with the word religion to describe?  When an organization describes itself as religious, what does the organization mean by religious?  When a person says this is truth based on religion, what representation, description, or symbol is the truth based on?

Love, righteousness, justice are not metaphors for religion but, rather, the word religion can be a metaphor for these words.  Religion can represent love, and/or righteousness, and/or justice.  But, unfortunately, religion can also represent hatred; revenge; killing; genocide; etc.  And, unfortunately religion can also be used as a metaphor for God.  But, the word God is also a metaphor, e.g. for love, righteousness, and justice.  God should never be confused with religion.  Whereas the power (force) of love, righteousness, justice (God) is eternal, religion should never be considered eternal.   Whereas the forces of love, righteousness, justice are real, religion is a metaphor.

I think we would be much better off if the word religion is not used.  But, rather, we would be better off if what actually is being described, when religion is used, is used in place of the word religion.  We need to stop using the metaphor and use the actual representation (description, symbol).  I do not like the word religion.