Class Notes: Theological Language

dominus vobiscum.   et cum spiritu tuo.   oremus:

actiones nostras quaesumus domine et aspirando praeveni.   et adiuuando prosequere,   ut cuncta operatio, et a te semper incipiat, et per te coepta finiatur.   per dominum iesum christum. amen.

Language

Theological

• God-speaking: content of speech or mode of talking?
  • from God? to God? for God/
• theological and/or religious and/or doxological language

Christian Theological Language Environments

• Hebrew / Jewish / Old Testament
  • influence of ancient mid eastern myths, narrative
• Greek / New Testament / Patristics
  • influence of mediterranean myths and philosophy
• Latin / mediaeval doctors of the church
  • influence of legal, military, and governmental organizations
• more recent influences:
  • German of magisterial reformation, Hindu influenced spirituality language,
  • American individualism, African communitarian ("Kwanzaa" etc), etc.

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Terminology List

Additional Suggested Resources

Cupitt, Don. The meaning of it all in everyday speech. London: SCM, 1999.

Armentrout, Don S. and Robert Boak Slocum. An Episcopal dictionary of the church : a user-friendly reference for Episcopalians. New York: Church, 2000.

Sherry, Patrick. Religion, truth and language-games. Library of philosophy and religion, ed. John Hick. New York: Harper & Row, 1977.

Phillips, D. Z. Recovering religious concepts: closing epistemic divides. Swansea studies in philosophy, ed. D. Z. Phillips. New York: St. Martin's, 2000.

Hordern, William. Speaking of God: the nature and purpose of theological language. London: Epworth, 1964.

Ebeling, Gerhard. Introduction to a theological theory of language. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1973.

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This page last modified 14 September 2000.