religious language - symbolism

what does Paul Tillich believe symbols are?

- symbols are different from signs
- signs impart information and are agreed by convention
- symbols participate in the thing they represent

what is Paul Tillich's Theory of Participation?

1) they point to something beyond themselves
2) they participate in that which they point to
3) they open up levels of reality which are usually closed to us
4) they open up dimensions of the soul

what did Tillich think that symbols explained?

- symbols help describe things that can't be explained through words alone
- allows us to describe God meaningfully

what does Tillich think symbolic language does for theists?

- using language such as 'God is love' is not only a sign of what God is, but helps us to participate in the love and reality of God.
- evokes an emotional response and understanding - eg. eucharist

what does Tillich believe happens to terms such as love?

- terms such as love must be AFFIRMED and NEGATED by the reality of God
- affirmed because God really is love
- negated because the human term is inadequate

what timespan does Tillich believe symbols have?

- symbols have a limited timespan due to time and culture
- eg. Jews used to sacrifice lambs, so Jesus was the lamb of God - has since lost meaning

how does J.Randall develop Tillich's views on symbolic language?

- he developed his ideas to say religious language is symbolic and non-cognitive (language which is not making a truth claim)

what 4 things did Randall believe religious language does?

1) arouses emotion and makes people act
2) stimulates and inspires community action
3) allows someone to express experiences non-literally
4) clarifies our experience of God
(I-nspire C-larify E-xpress emotions)

what did Randall call God?

- a ripple of imagination
- doesn't exist in reality but only in the mind of the believer and the collective imagination of the community of believers

STRENGTH: transcendance

- preserves the transcendence and mystery but being aware of it's limitations

STRENGTH: communication

- ability to communicate deeply and in a way ordinary language can't
- insight accurately reflects our sense that important things are beyond words

STRENGTH: timespan

- idea that symbols can change ensures that the message remains relevant to it's changing cultural context

WEAKNESS: participation

- it isn't clear how a symbol participates in that which they point to - to burn a flag = insult but wouldn't weaken a nation
- the fact that symbols are culturally dependant and can change - ideas of God may be misinterpreted