Software development as spiritual metaphor

This paper explores the possibility of finding spiritual metaphors in software development. It looks at some of the basic concepts in software development and explores how these concepts can be recast as symbolic allusions to the work of perfecting human nature. The particular concepts from software development that are recast as spiritual metaphors include desirable software qualities (which turn out to be desirable qualities for human beings as well), software processes (which turn out to be symbolic of particular approaches to spiritual discipline), significant principles for developing quality software (which turn out to express fundamental truths on the human level) and issues in software security (which easily translate into metaphors relating to the struggle between the spiritual aspirant and those who would derail the aspirant from his/her journey).