I think therefore I teach

• What is the focus of the first part of the religious language topic?

  It covers the apathetic way, via negativa, analogical analogy, and symbolic symbol.
• What are the three areas of religious language discussed ?

  • Via negativa (Apophatic Way)
  • Via Positiva (Cataphatic Way)
  • Analogy
  • Symbolism
• What is an example of a statement made in the via negativa approach?

  God is not human.
• Why do proponents of via negativa argue that positive descriptions of God are misleading?

  It promotes anthropomorphism as it belittles God.

  Imply human limitations and attributes that do not apply to God.

  When we give God attributes that we recognise from the physical world, we damage our understanding as they are inaccurate
• What is the main argument of those who support the via negativa approach?


  It is better to accept the mysteries of God than to use flawed human concepts.
• Who is associated with the via negativa approach in religious language?

  Pseudodionysius.
• Pseudodionysius & Apophatic Way

  He argues that via negativa is the only way to speak truthfully about God.

  God is beyond all human understanding & imagination.

  It is only through the recognition of the limits of humanity that spiritual progress can be made.

  People who are genuinely seeking God should not have the need to know everything & stop trying to logic and arguments.
• How does Pseudodionysius link the soul's quest for God to the body?


  He argues that the physical body holds back the soul's quest for God.
• What does the phrase "cloud of unknowing" refer to in the context of Pseudodionysius's teachings?


  It refers to the idea that one must go beyond reason to understand God.

  We should allow God to remain a mystery and accept it otherwise they'll miss the point and end up with the idea of a God that is too small.
• What criticism does Brian Davies present against the via negativa approach?


  He argues that only stating what something is not gives no indication of what it actually is.
• How does Davies illustrate his criticism of the via negativa approach?


  He uses the example of guessing an object in a room by only rejecting suggestions.
• What does Maimonides argue about conveying an accurate understanding of God?


  He argues that explaining what God is not helps to avoid limiting God in human thought.

  He used the example of a ship and described what it is not.
• What is the object described by Maimonides using the via negativa method?


  A ship.
• What conclusion does Davies reach about Maimonides' method of describing God?


  It is unlikely to lead to a correct understanding of God.
• What does Davies suggest about the limitations of negative descriptions?


  They do not provide any clues about what the subject actually is.
• How does Davies illustrate the ambiguity of negative descriptions?


  By stating that one could think of various objects that fit the negative criteria.
• What is the Apophatic Way?

  Via Negativa

  A way of speaking about God using only terms that say what God is not.
• Why does the speaker argue that one could think of a wardrobe or coffin instead of a ship?


  Because both could fit the descriptions provided
• What conclusion does Davies reach about the monadic method of arriving at answers?


  It is unlikely to lead people in the right direction
• What is a key problem with the epiphanic way according to the speaker?


  It assumes prior knowledge of possibilities
• How does the speaker suggest one could arrive at the answer if they know the possibilities?


  By eliminating options until only one remains
• What does the speaker imply about the effectiveness of the epiphanic way for someone with no concept of God?


  It may not work for someone who begins with no knowledge
• What is the Cataphatic way ?

  Via Positiva

  A range of ways of speaking about God using only terms that say what God is.
• What does Freud suggest about analogies?


  They do not decide anything but can make one feel more at home
• What is the definition of an analogy?


  A comparison between one thing and another in an effort to aid understanding
• What does Aquinas argue about human language and God?


  Human language limits our understanding of God
• What term did Aquinas use to describe the limitations of human language regarding God?


  Via eminentia
• How does Aquinas describe God's love compared to human love?


  God's love is the prime example of love
• What is the distinction between universal and equivocal language?


  Universal language uses words in the same way, while equivocal language uses the same word in different ways
• What does Aquinas believe about analogical language?


  It is the middle ground between universal and equivocal language
• What is an example of analogy of attribution?


  A jumper being called warm and cozy due to its effect on the person
• How does Aquinas distinguish between God's attributes and human attributes?


  God's attributes are the cause of all goodness, wisdom, and love
• What is the analogy of proportion?


  It relates words to objects that are different in proportion
• How does Aquinas suggest we can describe God?


  With terms like loving and faithful, but on an infinitely vaster scale
• What does Ian Ramsey contribute to the discussion of God's attributes?


  He introduces models and qualifiers to describe God
• What is the purpose of qualifiers in describing God?


  To ensure God is not limited to human understanding
• How does analogy help in understanding God according to the speaker?


  It allows for comparisons that can clarify God's attributes
• What do qualifiers like "perfectly" or "everlasting" help to describe about God's attributes?


  They emphasize that God's attributes are unlike our own.
• How can we express God's love according to the study material?

  By qualifying it as "perfect love" or "everlasting love."
• What does the analogy of proportion suggest about God?


  It indicates that while God can be linked to human experiences, He is ultimately beyond them.