Religious language - VNVP

Question 1

Name all the scholars involved :)

Answer 1

1. Pseudo Dionysius
2. Moses Maimonides
3. Aquinas
4. Tillich
5. Ramsey

Question 2

what were the two ways for religious language?

Answer 2

Apophatic = via negativa
Cataphatic = via positiva

Question 3

what is Pseudo Dionysius book?

Answer 3

‘Mystical theology’

Question 4

what is Moses Maimonides book?

Answer 4

‘The guide for the perplexed’

Question 5

what is Aquinas’ book?

Answer 5

‘Summa Theologica’

Question 6

what is Tillich’s book?

Answer 6

‘systematic theology’

Question 7

what is Ramseys book?

Answer 7

‘Religious language’

Question 8

what is the apophatic way?

Answer 8

speaking of God only using negative terms to say what he is not

Question 9

true of false, pseudo was a mystic?

Answer 9

true

Question 10

why did pseudo argue you must talk about God through VN?

Answer 10

God is beyond all human
understanding and imagination.

Question 11

who developed the cloud of unknowing? what did it mean?

Answer 11

Pseudo Dionysius
that our knowledge of God is limited because we are finite and God is infinite
our soul is operate from our body, to meet God and come to know all the knowledge
God will remain a mystery and until we meet him

Question 12

why did Maimonides argue the best way to talk of God is through the VN?

Answer 12

best way to convert an accurate understanding of God is to say what God is not ,which would allow people to make closer to God
also doesn’t limit God

Question 13

what analogy did Maimonides use to demonstrate his VN argument?
whats an example of what he says the analogy is not?

Answer 13

analogy of a ship
states the ship is
“not a mineral’
‘not a plant growing in the earth’
‘ not a sephere’

Question 14

define the cataphatic way?

Answer 14

using positive terms to describe God to convey a meaning

Question 15

what term did Aquinas use to describe the way in which we talk of God only partially because our language is limited?

Answer 15

‘via eminentiae’

should realise our love for God is eminent because our love is flawed

Question 16

what did Aquinas’ argue we do when communicate about God?

Answer 16

talk about God analogically rather than a literal interpretation

Question 17

what does univocal mean?

Answer 17

same words used in exactly the same way
ie: bathmat and doormat

Question 18

what does equivocal mean?

Answer 18

words used for two different things , same word used two different ways
ie: periodic table and dining table

Question 19

what does the term analogical mean?

Answer 19

same term used in a similar / related way
ie: smooth floor and smooth wine
floor not smooth in the same way the wine is smooth but used in a similar way

Question 20

why did Aquinas reject using both equivocal and univocal language?

Answer 20

makes God seem small doesn’t sufficiently convey his greatness
and God’s goodness and attributes are different to our own when applied

Question 21

what were the two analogies aquinas presented?

Answer 21

analogy of attribution
analogy of proportion

Question 22

define analogy of attribution?
what example did Aquinas use for this?

Answer 22

when there is a relationship between two things being described
used example of Bulls urine
bulls urine is healthy because caused by and attributes by the health of the bull

Question 23

what is the analogy of proportion?
whats an example?

Answer 23

when words relate to objects that are different proportionality
ie: speak of a clever toddler and a clever scientists
toddler clever in comparison to other toddlers and the scientist is clever in comparison to other scientists but their level of clearness is not the same

Question 24

whats an example of religious language being used within the analogy of proportion?

Answer 24

recognise Gods love like “God is loving’ but recognise God’s love is on an infinitely greater scale than our human love

Question 25

name Ramseys argument for VP?

Answer 25

models and qualifiers

Question 26

what is Ramseys models and qualifiers argument?

Answer 26

can use models when speak of God using human finite words like love or righteous and these are words which we understand to ensure we do not limit God need to use qualifiers include adjectives and adverbs like 'everlasting' which hep us to recognise his attributes are unlike ours, helping us to understand what we are talking about

Question 27

whats a strength about using religious language symbolically?

Answer 27

a way to make positive claims about God whilst avoiding problems of making God seem small

Question 28

what are some examples people may use when talking about God symbolically?

Answer 28

God 'listened' God walks with me 'the Lord is my Shepherd' the Lord is my rock

Question 29

why might someone use religious language symbolically rather than literally?

Answer 29

to convey feelings and meanings which cannot be put into words helping them to identify themselves

Question 30

name some examples of symbols within Christianity?

Answer 30

crucific alpha and omega ichthus fish

Question 31

who was Tillich? *some info about his background culture etc

Answer 31

German American theologian

Question 32

what theory did Tillich bring?

Answer 32

'theory of correlation' arguing there was a correlation between faith and culture in particular culture trying to find a meaning

Question 33

Tillich argued religious language is symbolic and couldn't be taken literally. what does this argue about its meaningfulness etc?

Answer 33

argued religious language couldn't be tested to determine whether its meaningful

Question 34

finish the quote by Tillich "they open up...."

Answer 34

"they open up levels of reality which were not available to us" - Tillich about symbolic language symbols can take us to a world beyond our senses

Question 35

why did Tillich argue symbolic language was the way to go when communication about religion and God?

Answer 35

metaphors and symbols help us to a better understanding of God and of religious experience

Question 36

what did Tillich argue symbols should seen more like rather than a diagram?

Answer 36

more like poetry more like art

Question 37

for Tillich what did he define a symbol to be? why did it differ from a sign?

Answer 37

a symbol is something that 'participates in' the object presented different from a sign because signs are chosen to stand for something whereas a sign directs you and points towards something

Question 38

what symbol did Tillich use to explain his understand of a symbol?

Answer 38

the American flag which evokes feelings of loyalty and patriotism

Question 39

for Tillich why did he argue we use symbolic language when communicating about God? nothing to do with God rather with how we feel whats an example?

Answer 39

as a way of coming to terms with human existence and our place within the universe example: use Jesus to unlock the mystery of spiritual and physical being brought together

Question 40

Tillich argued we don't use symbolic language with trivia. when did he argue we use symbolic language?

Answer 40

most important ideas feelings experiences concerns

Question 41

Tillich has be shown to agree with Aquinas, what did he agree with him about?

Answer 41

use of literal language is unhelpful because inadequate to convey ultimate truths

Question 42

what is existential doubt?

Answer 42

wondering if we have any purpose in the universe

Question 43

with God being understood as a 'being-itself' by Tillich, why is it important then that we talk of God symbolically?

Answer 43

so we have a question about God's existence to diminish any feelings of anxiety etc