Criticisms of symbolic language Flashcards
What approach doesn’t help us understand the meaning of a symbol?
The way Tillich uses religious language to explain religious language.
The issue regarding adequacy
There is no way to know that the symbols that are used are adequate because they are non-cognitive and cannot be verified or falsified.
The issue of too symbolic
If we argue that all religious language is symbolic then we can reach the conclusion that when we speak of God being great we do not actually mean this. Does Jesus Christ only stand symbolically?
The issue of not being static
If a symbolic meaning can change over time, what eternal religious insight can the symbol provide, if its meaning is always changing?
What does William Alsta reject symbolism on?
That there is no point trying to determine whether a statement is true or false.
