D: RL as non-cognitive and symbolic

Question 1

Signs and symbols

Answer 1

• A sign point us towards something else.
• A symbol participates in that to which it points.

eg. a poppy gives us a deeper understanding of Remembrance Day.

• Signs do not participate in the reality to which they point, while symbols do, therefore signs can be replaced for reasons of expediency or convention, whilst symbols cannot.

Question 2

Paul Tillich

Answer 2

• 20th century philosopher
• Argues that religious symbols communicate the most significant beliefs and values of human being; things that are often hard to put into words.
• Considered that symbols express what cannot be expressed in any other way.

Question 3

Symbols

Answer 3

Could be pictures, objects, actions, words.
SL involves metaphors, signs and myths and is always non-cognitive.
Religious terms- symbol statements include Jesus’ sayings ‘I am the light of the world’, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’
Symbols point towards something and beyond it- it can lead to expressions of ‘the ultimate’ = God.

Question 4

Tillich’s six stages

Answer 4

• Tillich puts forward six stages if understanding of ultimate reality is to be gained.
  1. Must be an understanding of the difference between symbols and signs- symbols go beyond conventional aspect to which they point.
  2. Symbols participate in the reality to which they point (example of a country’s flag)
  3. Symbols ‘open up levels of reality which otherwise were closed to us’
  4. Symbols ‘open up levels of reality’ outside of us, but also aspects of ourselves that would otherwise remain hidden.
  5. Symbols are not planned but develop out of the individual or collective unconscious (JUNG!!)
  6. Symbols ‘grow when the situation is ripe for them, and they die when the situation changes’.

Question 5

Tillich quote

Answer 5

“Symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate”
Because symbols are able to go beyond the limits of the finite reality of this world- help people to think about what exists beyond this world.

Question 6

Ultimate concern

Answer 6

• An ultimate concern is in principle an unconditional concern which calls for allegiance of the whole self- emotionally, volitionally and intellectually.
  (Faith)

Question 7

Religious statements as symbolic.

Answer 7

• Tillich believed religious statements were meant as symbolic and not literal.
• Symbols are independent of empirical evidence + therefore open up a level of consciousness that is otherwise inaccessible
  (creates meaning through social group of the time)

Examples: Symbolism in Mark 4:34-41- calming of the storm. manipulation of nature, shows all mighty nature.
Genesis 6-9- Noah’s ark, evil of man and power of God, we must be faithful to and obey Him.

Question 8

Randall

Answer 8

• John Herman Randall
• agreed language is symbolic and non-cognitive- argued that language serves four main functions.
• differs from Tillich- symbols are not representative, they don’t stand for anything other than themselves. Instead, they provoke responses.
• believed that rather than giving us knowledge or teaching us something about God or the Divine, symbols impart value and help people to continue their religious life.

Question 9

Randall quote

Answer 9

“They enable us to see and feel the religious dimension of our world better”

Question 10

Randall’s four functions of language (and religious symbols):

Answer 10

1. MOTIVATION- inspires action.
2. CO-OPERATION- strengthen group identity
3. COMMUNICATION- convey spiritual truths.
4. CLARIFY + DICLOSE EXPERIENCE OF THE DIVINE.