Religious Language (Analogy, Symbol, V.N)

Question 1

Define Analogy

Answer 1

Describing something unfamiliar to us by making comparisons with something we know

Question 2

Analogy of Attribution with examples?

Answer 2

Definition: attributes we ascribe to each other are a reflection of God.
Eg: Aquinas, bulls urine.
Brian Davies, baker/bread.

Question 3

Strengths of Analogy of Attribution:

Answer 3

+ 1: Hick: reincarnation of Jesus allows us to make statements about God
+ 2: We are made in God’s image so our attributes must be similar

Question 4

Weaknesses of Analogy of Attribution:

Answer 4

• 1: Anthropomorphic, brings God to human level.
• 2: Negative attributes?
• 3: Requires previous faith in God

Pseudo Dionysus “God is beyond assertion”

Question 5

Analogy of Proportion explanation with examples

Answer 5

Quality point toward another thing. Degree depends upon the nature of the being possessing the quality.
God = infinite
Eg: Hick: dog 🐕 + faithfulness
Same meaning different degree

Question 6

Strengths of Analogy of Proportion

Answer 6

+ 1: Avoid anthropomorphism

+ 2: True to Judao-Christian as all powerful (infinite)

Question 7

Weaknesses of Analogy of proportion

Answer 7

• 1: Vague, we cannot understand infinity
• 2: Requires prior belief of God
• 3 : Negative statements? infinitely Negative?

Pseudo Dionysis “God is beyond assertion”

Question 8

Strongest weakness of Analogy and strength of Symbol

Answer 8

Pseudo Dionysus: “God is beyond assertion” which means that words limit our understanding of God.

Question 9

Define + explain use of Symbols

Answer 9

Symbol: Points us toward something and communicates something powerful
Paul Tillich: participate in and reveal higher power

Question 10

Weaknesses of Symbol

Answer 10

• 1: VAGUE, “show higher reality” mean?
• 2: John HICK: what does a FLAG participate in?
• 3: Alston: if not literally true, “WHAT ARE THEY”

Question 11

Strengths of Symbol

Answer 11

+ 1: 97% communication NON-VERBAL
+ 2: Deeper meaning eg: POPPY, invokes tears
+ 3: Non-COMMUNITY can still understand general meaning

Question 12

Define Via Negativa

Answer 12

“The way of the negative”

Question 13

Explain Via Negativa

Answer 13

Says what God is not. Avoid anthropomorphism

Used first by Plotinus to describe “form of the good”. Seperate and unknowable
Later used by Pseudo Dionysis to describe His and “God is above assertion”

Question 14

Describe 2 Scholars who support Via Negative

Answer 14

Plotinus: used VN to describe the “form of the good”. (God) is seperate and unknowable.

Pseudo Dionysis: “God is beyond assertion” Used V.N to talk about God

Question 15

Strengths of Via Negativa

Answer 15

+ 1: Prevents anthropomorphism
+ 2: Conveys transcendence of God
+ 3: More respectful

Question 16

Weaknesses of Via Negativa

Answer 16

• 1: LIMITED understanding
• 2: NOT ACCURATE reflection OF how RELIGIOUS people speak
• 3: “NO POSITIVE statement is to be made of God” but if you say “good is not good” then IMPLIES good. so UNDERMINES principle