Religious Language Flashcards
(21 cards)
Who proposed the concept of Language Games?
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Wittgenstein emphasized that the meaning of language is rooted in its use within specific social contexts.
What is the Verification Principle?
A principle stating that statements are only meaningful if they are true by definition or empirically verifiable
A.J. Ayer is a key figure associated with this principle.
What does Logical Positivism reject?
The meaningfulness of theological language
It argues such statements are neither analytically true nor empirically verifiable.
Define Cognitive Language.
Language that conveys factual information which can be checked for truth or falsehood
Example: ‘A-level results day is in August.’
Define Non-Cognitive Language.
Language that cannot be checked for factual accuracy because it expresses opinion or emotion
Example: ‘I don’t like it when people steal.’
What is the Falsification Principle?
A principle stating a statement is meaningful only if there is evidence that could prove it false
Proposed by Karl Popper.
What is Eschatological Verification?
Hick’s view that religious truth claims can be verified after death
It defends the meaningfulness of religious statements.
What is a Blick according to R.M. Hare?
A framework of interpretation or worldview developed from birth
It explains how religious claims can have meaning for believers.
What does Wittgenstein mean by ‘Forms of Life’?
The habitual activities and responses that form the background to any use of language
Each form of life has its own rules governing language use.
What is the Apophatic Way?
A way of describing God by stating what God is not
It avoids anthropomorphism and preserves God’s transcendence.
What does A.J. Ayer argue about the statement ‘God exists’?
It is literally meaningless, neither true nor false
Ayer’s stance reflects his commitment to the Verification Principle.
What is the significance of the parable of the Invisible Gardener?
It illustrates how believers may qualify their beliefs to avoid falsification
Used by Antony Flew to argue that religious claims are meaningless if unfalsifiable.
True or False: According to Popper, science should aim to support a hypothesis.
False
Popper argued that science should attempt to disprove theories.
What is the Cataphatic Way?
Talking about God in positive terms
Examples include descriptions like ‘God is love.’
What does Hare’s concept of Blicks suggest about religious beliefs?
They are a way of seeing the world and are deeply meaningful for individuals
This suggests that religious statements are not just assertions of fact.
What is a unique critique of the Verification Principle?
It fails its own test as the principle itself is not verifiable
This limits its applicability to meaningful language.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Principle states that statements are only meaningful if they can be proven false.
Falsification
What is the main idea of Wittgenstein’s approach to language?
The meaning of words is derived from their use in specific contexts
This context-dependent view emphasizes the importance of social interaction.
What does Hick’s parable of the Celestial City illustrate?
The idea that religious beliefs can be verified after death
It contrasts the perspectives of a believer and a skeptic on the same journey.
What is a criticism of Hare’s Blicks?
It reduces religious belief to personal preference without objective evidence
This raises concerns about the validity of differing religious perspectives.
What does the term ‘theological anti-realism’ refer to?
The idea that religious statements may not correspond to an objective reality
This perspective can arise from Wittgenstein’s language games.
