Flashcards
Religious Language - Symbol
Cards in this deck (26)
- 1What do symbols do?Symbols identify/point to the concept they are conveying and participate/share some way in the meaning of that concept.
- 2What does symbols and symbolic language include?Metaphors, similies, signs and myths.
Symbols may be pictoral, abstract, verbal or active - 3Who influenced Tillich?Influenced by the reading of Carl Jung (who saw symbols as related to the unconscious mind)
- 4What does Tillich believe signs do?point to something e.g. letter 'a' points to the sound but does not participate in it
- 5What does Tillich belive symbols do?Goes beyond a sign and actually participates in the thing it symbolises. Tillich uses the example of a flag as a symbol which conveys nationalism, patriotism and national identity.
- 6What does he say logical positivists aim to do?Talk purely in signs
- 7What does Tillich say about language spoken in church?That it is poetic and liturgical language which for centuries has gone beyond simply pointing to a meaning.
- 8Quote from: Tillich'The main function of a symbol - namely, the opening up of levels of reality which otherwise are hidden'
- 9What is Tillich's example of an artistic symbol?The landscape of Rubens mediates that which cannot be expressed in any other way than in the painting.
- 10Where does Tillich believe symbols come from?Collective/group unconscious; they cannot be invented unless the collective unconscious embraces it.
- 11What does Tillich believe about the nature of a religious symbol?That they do the same as all symbols and open up a hidden level of reality.
- 12How are religious symbols different to other symbols?The open up a dimension of ultimate reality, the dimension of the holy. Tillich also warns us about confusing symbols of the holy and the holy itself; he admits symbols have been misunderstood and misused.
- 13Why does Tillich admit symbols are confusing?All things come from the ultimate reality, all things can in essence act as symbols of it
- 14Is what we say about God symbolic?Yes APART from saying he is the ultimate reality.
- 15Why can we not take the qualities and actions of God literally?Would lead to absurdities:
There are category errors with placing the transcendent in time and space. - 16In what situation do symbols die?If the situation in which they are used changes
- 17Example: The Christian CrossThe cross identifies for believers the death of Jesus, but it does more than simply point to it in a factual way. it participates in it by bringing to the believers consciousness what Jesus' death signifies (salvation, defeat fo satan)
- 18What does Campbell say about Symbol?Good.
It reminds us of the dangers of anthropomorphising God - 19Why do many like Tillich symbol?Supporters say it is the only way that the transcendence and mystery of God can be preserved.
- 20How does John Macquarrie criticise Tillich?He advocates symbolism but suggests that there is no difference between a symbol and a sign e.g. clouds are a sign and symbol of rain.
- 21How does Hick criticise symbol?Says the idea of participation isn't much difference between a symbol and a sign
- 22How does William Alston criticise symbol?Argues that symbols are meaningless because we do not know whether they are true or not
- 23How does Paul Edwards criticise symbol?Argues symbols are meaningless because they cannot be verified or falsified
- 24How does Randall Criticise Symbol?Argues that religious symbols are non-cognitive and non-representative. For Randall God is not a transcendent reality rather an intellectual symbol for what we think we need
- 25What is the Bible speaking about when it talks of the 'kingdom of God'?the 'Kingdom' is a symbol of the reality of God's power and rule.
- 26Why did R.B Braithwaite believe religious claims were meaningful?1. It is more a moral claim expressing an attitude.
2. Different from a moral claim, as a religious one will refer to a story as well as an intention
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- a2 Religious Studies (Philosophy) Flashcards on Religious Language - Symbol, created by Ella Foster on 16/02/2017.
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