Religious Language

?
View mindmap
  • Religious Language
    • God as 'beyond description'
      • God beyond our ability to describe.
      • Judaism-Name of God not uttered. Via negativa aware of danger of using human language of God.
      • 'God is good' understood in human terms.
      • God isn't 'good', goodness beyond comprehension.
      • Same truth for all attributes of God. All words applied to God are equivocal.
    • The apophatic way: key thinkers
      • The apophatic way (via negativa) from Platonic philosophers-form of Good beyond description.
      • Dionysius believe that God is beyond assertion.
      • Influenced by Plato, aware of our senses limiting our language.
      • Positive statements about God risk anthropomorphic idea (describing something in human terms) . Negative terms preserve mystery and otherness.
      • Maimondes argued the only positive statement about God is that he exists.
      • Other descriptions of God-negative to ensure we aren't improper/disrespectful. Negative bringing some knowledge about God.
    • The apophatic way assessed
      • Key strengths  of the apophatic way
        • Language of God through human terms. Reduces God to human level. Apophatic way prevents anthromorphic representation of God.
        • Could be argued that the apophatic way is respectful. Recognises that God is transcendent and wholly other than the human realm.
        • Fits with religious experiences perceived by people who experience them- mysticism. James observes religious experiences as ineffable' can't be described by ordinary language.
      • Key weaknesses of the apophatic way
        • Limited knowledge from what the apophatic way tells us.
        • Apophatic way isn't a true reflects of how religious believers think speak about God. Scripture describe's God in a positive way.
        • Apophatic way isn't a true reflection  of means of communicating with non-believer about the subject of God.
        • Dean argued denying description of God leads to annihilation of God where we lose our connection between God and the world
    • The cataphatic way [via positive]- Aquinas and Analogy
      • Cataphatic way or via positive, argues that positive statements made about God.
      • Aquinas' theory of analogy e.g. via positive, sits between univocal and equivocal theorys of language.
      • Univocal language: words applied to God have same means- have in their normal context. Risks making God sound human.
      • Analogy: words applied to God have partial resemblance ti their normal use.
      • Equivocal language: words applied to God have a different meaning from normal aluse. No knowledge of God.
      • Aquinas on analogy
        • Analogy of attribution: words applied to humans related to words linked God=casual relationship.Qualities of love and wisdom. Medieval times a pure animal would be told through their urine.  Examine human love and wisdom which are a pure reflection of his divine attributes.
        • Untitled
        • Untitled
        • Analogy of proper proportion: certain properties reflect a thing we are describing. Human good= finite being. Descrbiging God, we speak of a infinite being and goodness in proportion to it.
    • The Cataphatic Way [Via Positive] assessed
      • Strengths of the cataphatic way
        • Avoids speaking anthropomorphically and avoids agnosticism- idea that God's nature cannot be known.
        • Method of analogy invests us to describe God in visual terms isn't similar to method that Jesus used in describing Kingdom of God.
        • Not able to do Philosophy as discussion relies on words having some positive meanings.
      • Weaknesses of the cataphatic way [via positiva]
        • Theory of analogy allows some picturing that via negativa doesn't. Danger of picturing God on an individual aspect.
        • Translates words in univocal lan when applied to God. Swinburne religious statements are univocal- contract with everyday meaning.
        • Not always easy to know how far the meanings are stretched.
    • Tillich and symbolic language
      • Signs and symbols
        • Sings- red traffic light or road sign points to something.
        • Symbol participates into something to which it points at.
        • Poppy doesn't just point out to people lost their laves but part of Remembrance Day.
      • Tillich on symbolic language and art
        • 1) Cant speak literally gf God. Not part of empirical word and not represented by literal language. God like 'Ground of Being' understood symbolically.
        • 2) Symbolic words with God can't be random. Marge from collective unconscious.
        • 3) Symbols limited lifespan. Hindu symbol of swatsika lost meaning due to Nazis.
        • 4) Symbol open levels of reality. Unlock 'hidden depth of our own being" Tillich uses analogy of good works of art.
      • "Every symbol is double edged. It opens reality, and it opens up the soul" Tillich
    • Symbolic language assessed
      • Strengths of symbolic language
        • Argued taking symbolic view of religious language preserves transcendence and mystery of God. God is 'good' analogy risks reducing God to our love.
        • Tillich's insight is that symbols communicate deeply. Accurately reflect the idea that some things in life are beyond words.
        • Idea that symbolic language changed over time.
      • Weaknesses of symbolic language
        • Not clear how symbols participate to what it points at. Burn poppies would in suit but wouldnt reduce the important sacrifice of fallen soldiers.
        • Randall argues religious language is symbolic, symbols are non-cognitive  and provide no info about God.
        • Tillichs deeps symbols like art. Assumes a connection between religion and aesthetic.
        • Everything participates in 'being self' difficult to see how he argues a symbolic participation in a unique way.
        • Symbolic objects and symbolic language are culturally dependent and change with time meaning our ideas about God change over time.

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Religious Studies resources:

See all Religious Studies resources »See all Philosophy resources »