Symbols and Realism

Question 1

Who is key for Symbols in religious language?

Answer 1

Paul Tillich and Ian Ramsey

Question 2

What did Ian Ramsey state?

Answer 2

He uses models and qualifiers to describe God:

‘Model’ is a word like ‘righteous’ or ‘loving’ and we understand them from our own human experience

‘Qualifier’ is used so we do not limit God, e.g. ‘everlasting’ or ‘perfectly’

Question 3

What did Paul Tillich state?

Answer 3

Religious language is always symbolic, statements should not be taken literally. If understood, the spiritual meaning of the symbolic words points to

It is sued to express an account with the ultimate

There is an appropriate culture and form of religious language - this can arise limitations

Question 4

Metaphor, who suggested this for religious language?

Answer 4

Janet Soskice

Question 5

Where is a metaphor used?

Answer 5

In both religion and science

Question 6

What can a metaphor do?

Answer 6

Gesture towards the reality of God without claiming to describe God e.g. God is the vine or God is my Shepard

Question 7

What is a metaphor based on?

Answer 7

Realism

Question 8

Who are critical realists?

Answer 8

Bernard Lonergan, Peacock and Polkinghorne

Question 9

What is critical realism?

Answer 9

The mind shapes what it perceives and we can only acquire knowledge about the external world by critical reflection

Question 10

What is critical realism?

Answer 10

Distinguishes between the ‘real’ world and ‘observable’ world