Language Games - Religious Language

Who established Language Games?

Ludwig Wittgenstein

What theories did Wittgenstein reject?

Verification & Falsification principles

Why did Wittgenstein reject Verification & Falsification?

- In his view, religious claims are not like scientific ones

- Both Ayer & Flew mistakenly apply the language game of science to religion

Wittgenstein's view of words

- They do not indicate an object but perform a function

- Speaking is an activity in which words gain their sense

- Language is something learned from others

- The tone in which words are uttered indicate their significance

- Therefore we should not ask for the meaning of a word but instead the use

Language Games

- The meaning of a word derives from the context in which it is used

- These contexts were coined by Wittgenstein as "Language Games"

- The player needs to know the rules of the game to truly understand the meaning of the words in that specific context

Language Games' application to religious language

- Only those who belong to a religious tradition can fully understand and appreciate the emotion and spiritual significance of religious statements

- Therefore religious language cannot be claimed to be true/false

- Its meaning is defined by the user within their religious language game

Example of Religious Language applied to Language Games

The word "God" is not an object.

It is used in religious contexts, e.g. Baptism, and this is where its meaning is found.

Instead of asking "what is God", therefore, we should ask "in which contexts should the word be used?"

Strengths of Language Games

- Allows for range of meaning of language rather than trying to categorise it into one "box"

- Allows for religious statements to be "belief in"

Weaknesses of Language Games

- Virtually impossible to enter debate with those from other language game, e.g. atheism

- Personal, non-cognitive meaning = Important, but many religious believers prefer to view religious language as cognitive