Religious Language Flashcards
Which to religious thinkers spoke about analogies?
William Paley when he spoke about his analogy of the watch and Aquinas who saw analogy as a ‘middle way’ between univocal and equivocal language.
Who’s idea was the analogy of proportion and how did he explain it?
This was John Hicks idea and he likened it to speaking about the faithfulness of a dog and the faithfulness of a human being proportionately different.
What was Ian Ramsey’s idea of models and qualifiers?
Models are used as words and titles apply to gods function. Whereas qualifiers on the limits within these models.and example is, when saying “God is good”, the qualifier can be added to make a more meaningful sentence, “God is infinitely good “.
What did Paul Tillich famously say about symbols?
“It is possible to describe a painting, but the description is useless without having the painting there. “
Give an example of a symbol
The Christian Cross or the Buddhist Wheel.
Who talks about how myths are retellable and are easy to communicate unlike philosophical theories?
H J Richards
What was Gerry Hughes’s way using religious language?
He thought it was preferable to use a metaphor as it is this likely to mislead and doesn’t try to directly describe God for example, “God is my rock “.
How are metaphors used in a practical sense?
In science sound is related to waves.
Who argued that religious experiences should be defined by there fruits (outcomes)?
The American psychologist and philosopher William James.
What were William James’ is four fold classification?
Passive, ineffable, noetic and transient
Rudolph Otto was interested in religious experience being numinous what does that mean?
Otto identifies two aspects: one being overwhelmed fear and all of the unknown, and the second feeling love and mercy.
Richard Swinburn talks about five types of religious experiences tow being in public and three being private.
- Seeing God in a public object or scene
- A breach of natural law
- A describable personal experience
- An ineffable experience
- Something that isn’t an experience but is a feeling the presence of God.
What are the three types of visions?
Corporal, intellectual, and imaginative.
Who argued religious experience proof of God?
William James as each individual has proof of God. Richard Swinburne add this to a list of reasons which outweigh science. William Alston argus something is true if you see it and people see God.
Richard Swinburne verifies religious experience with a change in someone’s life who is an example of this?
Nicky Cruz or Davey Falcus.
