1111

2222

RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS LANGUAGELANGUAGE

VIA NEGATIVAVIA NEGATIVA

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

MODELS AND QUALIFIERSMODELS AND QUALIFIERS

44

VIA NEGATIVAVIA NEGATIVAThe negative wayThe negative way

Synonymous with EQUIVOCAL and APOPHATIC.Synonymous with EQUIVOCAL and APOPHATIC.

Refer to the summary notes I did from Stiver’s book Refer to the summary notes I did from Stiver’s book entitled entitled Historical Approaches to Religious Historical Approaches to Religious

Language.Language.

Look at this in the context of all other approaches to Look at this in the context of all other approaches to religious language and ask, “religious language and ask, “Why do some advocate Why do some advocate

the negative way?the negative way?””44

55

VIA NEGATIVAVIA NEGATIVAThe negative wayThe negative way

Perhaps the most helpful thing to remember about Perhaps the most helpful thing to remember about the negative way is that it reminds us that there is a the negative way is that it reminds us that there is a persistent danger of idolatry in religious language persistent danger of idolatry in religious language

about God. All of our attempts to speak of God about God. All of our attempts to speak of God may confuse the partial modelling of God in may confuse the partial modelling of God in

particular language with the reality of God that particular language with the reality of God that language is trying, inadequately, to depict.language is trying, inadequately, to depict.

55

66

VIA VIA NEGATIVA NEGATIVA

The Great The Great Chain of Chain of

BeingBeing

Plotinus &Plotinus &Neo-Neo-

PlatonismPlatonism SSOSSOTT

God = The One = The Good

Matter

Transcendent Pure Spirit

ANGELS

MEN

ANIMALS

INANIMATE MATTER

Pure Spirit

Emanates Downwards

Note that in say Pseudo-Dionysius, this hierarchy of being corresponds to the hierarchy of the church with its bishops, priests and deacons!

Psa 8:5

77SSOSSO

TT

God = The One = The GoodTranscendent Pure Spirit

MEN

Spiritual Ascent:* Apophatic meditation= Quiet oneself+ Get rid of the lowly:

[1] Body[2] Mind

= Move towards an unmediated encounter with the One.

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Pseudo-Dionysius the AreopagitePseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

Probably a 5th / 6th cc SyrianProbably a 5th / 6th cc Syrian

Inspired many from Aquinas to MiltonInspired many from Aquinas to Milton

Attempts to synthesise Christian truth and NeoplatonismAttempts to synthesise Christian truth and Neoplatonism

Advocates a progressive deification of man towards Advocates a progressive deification of man towards union with God. union with God.

Method is soul abandoning the perceptions of the senses Method is soul abandoning the perceptions of the senses and reasoning of the mind.and reasoning of the mind.

Consequent illumination leads to knowledge of the Consequent illumination leads to knowledge of the ineffable Being - an ineffable, indescribable but intensely ineffable Being - an ineffable, indescribable but intensely real experience.real experience.

Plotinus’ “the flight of the alone to the alone”.Plotinus’ “the flight of the alone to the alone”.

88

99

SymbolsSymbols• Common definition: “A symbol is a pattern or Common definition: “A symbol is a pattern or object which point to an invisible metaphysical object which point to an invisible metaphysical reality and participates in it” - Erica Dinkler-von reality and participates in it” - Erica Dinkler-von Schubert.Schubert.

• Symbols Symbols identifyidentify ie. point to the concept ie. point to the concept

they are conveying & they are conveying & participate participate ie. share in ie. share in some way in the meaning of that concept.some way in the meaning of that concept.

1100

Symbols Symbols (cont)(cont)

Symbols can be:Symbols can be:

• PictorialPictorial

• AbstractAbstract

• VerbalVerbal

• Active (a symbolic action)Active (a symbolic action)

eg. A Christian Cross points to the death of Jesus but in eg. A Christian Cross points to the death of Jesus but in more than just a factual way. It brings to the believer what more than just a factual way. It brings to the believer what it signifies such as:it signifies such as:

•Salvation from sinSalvation from sin

•Sacrificial atonementSacrificial atonement

•Victory over deathVictory over death

•Hope of eternal lifeHope of eternal life

•God’s love for the worldGod’s love for the world

•Defeat of Satan Defeat of Satan 1100

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Symbols Symbols (cont)(cont)

Paul TillichPaul Tillich

eg. of a national flageg. of a national flag

conveyingconveying

nationalism, patriotism & national identity.nationalism, patriotism & national identity.

Signs are to do with facts.Signs are to do with facts.

Symbols transcend facts and should not therefore be Symbols transcend facts and should not therefore be interpreted literally. interpreted literally.

Symbols are subtle modes of discourse - high level Symbols are subtle modes of discourse - high level language needs them.language needs them.

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Symbols Symbols (cont)(cont)

Problems with symbols:Problems with symbols:

•[1] They can be a focus for veneration themselves - [1] They can be a focus for veneration themselves - they should point beyond themselves eg. iconsthey should point beyond themselves eg. icons

•[2] They can be trivialised and the original meaning [2] They can be trivialised and the original meaning lost thereby.lost thereby.

•[3] They can become outdated, like myths.[3] They can become outdated, like myths.

•[4] “It is necessary to rediscover the questions to [4] “It is necessary to rediscover the questions to which the Christian symbols are the answers in a way which the Christian symbols are the answers in a way which is understandable in our time.” - Tillichwhich is understandable in our time.” - Tillich•Christianity appropriated the metaphors of earlier pagan religions, grafting them into its own account of the creation and beyond....a more ancient symbol indicative of female anatomy and reproductive potency (www.atheists.org/)

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Models and QualifiersModels and QualifiersThis is often discussed under the This is often discussed under the heading of analogy. The idea of heading of analogy. The idea of

Models and Qualifiers is Models and Qualifiers is attributed to Ian Ramsey - one attributed to Ian Ramsey - one time Bishop of Durham - from time Bishop of Durham - from

his famous book his famous book Religious Religious LanguageLanguage. We take a human . We take a human

attribute and ascribe it to God, attribute and ascribe it to God, qualifying it to make clear that it qualifying it to make clear that it

is infinitely enhanced when is infinitely enhanced when applied to God.applied to God.

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Models and QualifiersModels and Qualifiers•In Ramsey’s scheme the human attribute is the In Ramsey’s scheme the human attribute is the model.model.

•In ascribing it to God, we qualify it to make it clear In ascribing it to God, we qualify it to make it clear that it is infinitely enhanced when applied to God.that it is infinitely enhanced when applied to God.

•This leads us to an understanding of the infinite This leads us to an understanding of the infinite nature of God.nature of God.

•This is a positive act of qualification, rather than This is a positive act of qualification, rather than the negative approach which Flew criticised.the negative approach which Flew criticised.

1155

Note the other mechanisms Note the other mechanisms of analogyof analogy

* Remotion and excellence* Remotion and excellence

* Analogy of proportion* Analogy of proportion

* Analogy of attribution* Analogy of attributionas well asas well as

Models and qualifiersModels and qualifiers

Remotion and excellenceThe principle of remotion and excellence refers to the

removal of all creaturely concepts from a term and projecting what is left onto God. Thus we learn that God

is without limit.

Good Projected onto God

Analogy of proportionAll good qualities belong

proportionately to God and to humans. Thus we know that proportionately they must exist pre-eminently

in God, but in a lesser way in humans. We cannot

know God’s nature fully but we can reach some

(limited) understanding of it.

Analogy of attributionGod is the cause of all

good things in humans and other beings. He attributes to them what belongs to him first in a greater and

higher sense. So our awareness of something like human faithfulness allows us to project it

upwards to reflect God’s greater faithfulness. Only possible though, because God’s faithfulness came

first. So it can be an upward or downward

projection.

1199

Remotion and excellenceRemotion and excellence

Analogy of proportionAnalogy of proportion

Analogy of attributionAnalogy of attribution

Models and qualifiersModels and qualifiers

What all of the above are trying to do is to show how it might be possible to speak intelligibly of God and His attributes because there is an analogy between God and ourselves based on the notion that God the Creator is in some relevant respects similar to what He has made. With the strong tradition of the Word of God - belief in a God who is there and not silent, this is a plausible and legitimate exercise.