Key Terms for Religious Language (Philosophy) Flashcards
What is ‘Univocal’
The word has exactly the same meaning at all times
What is ‘Equivocal’
The same word is used with two completely different meanings
What is ‘Cataphic Way’
Uses positive language to describe the qualities and nature of God
What is ‘Apophatic Way’
The via negativa - The negative way - only legitimate way to talk about God is to say what he’s not
What is ‘Analogy of Attribution’
A way of talking about God through attributing characteristics of the created to the creator
What is ‘Sign’
Points to something outside of itself
What is ‘Analogy of Proportion’
A way of talking about God by comparing limited human concepts with a proportionally much greater idea
What is ‘Symbol’
Participates in that to which it points and conveys a depth of meaning often at an emotional level
