Power of the Use of Religious Conceptual Metaphors for Persuasion

This book investigates how religious conceptual metaphors (RCMs) are used persuasively in George W. Bush's discourse to justify the 'War on Terror' in Iraq, drawing on Critical Metaphor Analysis and Cognitive Metaphor Theory. Using a corpus of 99 political discourses across 12 genres from Bush's two presidential terms (2001-2008), the study combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative analyses examine the distribution, variation, and impact of RCMs, while qualitative analysis explores their persuasive power through key themes such as the U.S.-Iraq conflict, the enemy, and self/other representation. The findings show differences in RCM use across terms and reveal how Bush employed religious metaphors to morally frame the conflict, influence public perception, and legitimize military intervention in Iraq.