Religion as Metaphor for Ethno-ethical Identity

An acute theological as well as ethical problem has arisen in the intolerance between ethnic religious communities, the religious affiliations legitimising mutual exclusion and hatred. The central point in Jesudasans Religion as Metaphor for Ethno-Ethical Identity is that religious doctrines, norms and rituals are metaphorical in their function, group identities being constructed by that poetic and metaphorical language. In a sociological and anthropological approach we can see the (theological) image of God change with social changes. We have thus an ethical duty to de-objectify religious doctrines and norms in order to promote a world of peace instead of a world of group interests, dualistic-exclusive world views, conflicts, wars and ethnic cleansing. Can we come to a reading of religious texts that discovers a more universal than a particularistic meaning? Jesudasans tentative analyses of Biblical narratives, both in the Old and the New Testaments, from this perspective are very inspiring and influenced by post modern philosophy: ... the metaphorical character of social linguistics reveals that we live not inside reality, but inside our representation of it. We live in metaphors, which move and are syncretistically derived from one text and context to another. - Jan Hjarpe