On the relation between language and gender in Catholic religious discourse

Abstract

The article falls within the current of linguistic research on religious language, specifically on the language of Polish Catholicism. The paper is divided into two parts. The first discusses the specificity of the problem of gender resulting from the fact that the objects of religious faith are supernatural Beings, but in human beliefs, in culture, they are also attributed gender. The figures from the world of the Sacred – God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary, the angel, Satan – although they may be conceptualized as androgynous (in philosophy, in feminist theology), in „ordinary”, everyday cult and pastoral language (prayers, songs, sermons, etc.) they are linguistically represented as persons of unambiguous gender: male or female. Language thus creates a world of the Sacred whose image is not at odds with the colloquial image of gender, and the means developed to serve interpersonal contacts prove sufficient.

The second presents certain linguistic strategies that are intended by the senders to build the gender identity of Polish male Catholics. This strategy involves the use of military language (war metaphors, vocabulary etc.) for religious practices (praying the rosary, pilgrimages, retreats etc.), which create the image of a soldier of Christ, and as the essence of masculinity – physical and mental strength and domination.