Understanding Symbolism in Religious Language
Religious language utilizes symbolism as a non-cognitive approach to convey abstract concepts and represent religious figures and beliefs. Symbols are used to describe God and share concepts relevant to faiths, facilitating the understanding of complex theological ideas such as baptism. This symbolic language does not focus on factual information but aims to convey deeper meanings through analogical representations.
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DIL check 1. Complete all the tasks in the booklet up to page 10 Summary of analogy 2. Write a one page revision summary of Religious language as non- cognitive and analogical - Include an explanation of Analogy of Being why can we make a comparison between God and humanity. 3. Write an essay plan for Explain the concept of religious language as an analogy. 20 marks 4. Complete the Christianity Theme 1 knowledge test
4 D Religious language as non-cognitive and symbolic: tillich Functions of symbols (John Randall); God as that which concerns us ultimately (Paul Tillich). Challenges including whether a symbol is adequate or gives the right insights. A consideration of how these two views (Randall/Tillich) can be used to help understand religious teachings
1. What are signs and symbols? Discuss a definition Symbols A pattern or object which points to an invisible metaphysical reality.. Or they identify by: Pointing to a concept they are conveying Symbols may be pictorial, abstract, signs or metaphors Signs are arbitrary representations e.g.
Question 2 Using the next three slides Identify the 3 religious symbols and explain what they mean or stand for
Complete the rest of task 8 Use these pictures to help you explain the symbolism of a national flag
The purpose of symbols in religion Read the points below and turn them into a introductory paragraph to the essay Explain the view that religious language is symbolic They are a non- cognitive way of using language to refer to religious figures etc. A view of religious language that argues that its function is not to inform or contain factual information. It s a way of describing God, (who may or may not be reality) They allow for the sharing of a concepts relevant to particular faiths i.e. baptism The concept of Christian baptism uses water-to convey the belief that it cleanses from original sin-this is symbolic Complete tasks 9 and 10 on page 12
Randall and Tillich Randall s function of symbols Tillich s ideas on God as that which concerns us ultimately including his six key features of symbolic language
Randall The function of symbols Emotions increase emotions and strengthen commitment Bind bring communities together Communicate express ideas that are hard to put into words Clarify make our experiences of the divine clearer Read page 13 and complete all the activities Add a paragraph on Randall to your essay on symbols
Tillich God as that which concerns us ultimately Six key features of symbols: (a) They point to something beyond themselves, (b) They participate in that to which they point, (c) They open up levels of reality which otherwise are closed to us, and (d) They open up dimensions of the soul which correspond to those aspects of reality. (e) Symbols are not planned but develop out of individual/collective unconscious (f) Symbols grow when the situation is right for them, and they die when the situation changes
Tillichs ideas on symbols 1. Point beyond ____________ 2. ___________ in that to which they point 3. Opens up new ______ of _____ 4. Opens up parts of the _____ 5. Developed ___ __________ 6. Grow and then ________
Tillichs ideas on symbols 1. Point beyond themselves 2. Participate in that to which they point 3. Opens up new levels of reality 4. Opens up parts of the soul 5. Developed not planned 6. Grow and then die Add paragraphs to your essay on Tillich you must read pages 14 and 15
Symbols in Christian scripture-Symbolic interpretation of scripture Scripture/Holy books can be interpreted symbolically, this means the words might actually mean something else, they represent a different truth. This symbolic interpretation of text/scripture is Liberal- because it is open to interpretation. Meaning- people read into it what they believe to be true.
1 Symbolic text - Parables The parable of the Good Samaritan They are very symbolic and they are open to interpretation
1 Activity : parables 1. How do you interpret Jesus message? 2. In what way the parable is symbolic?
2 A symbolic view of creation Some Christians see the creation account to be symbolically true an aetiological myth They believe that scientific explanations (e.g. Big Bang) can enhance their view of creation and God. To support their symbolic viewpoint, they scrutinise inaccuracies and contradictions.
3 Another example to use miracles Miracles can be interpreted symbolically not literally true but showing something about God/Jesus Walking on the water Did Jesus walk on water, or was it due to a freak cold spell that created ice on the sea? Some scientists believe this is possible.
3 The miracles of Jesus The raising of Lazarus from the dead Did it really happen? Could Lazarus have been buried alive? Perhaps Jesus applied some kind of CPR? Complete your essay on symbols with a parable of examples of religious language that can be seen as symbolic parables, creation accounts and miracles
Challenges to symbols Look at the list made of inherent problems of religious language made from the first lesson. Which of these has Randall / Tillich apparently solved? Which remain a problem?
Challenges to symbolic interpretation of RL Specification content Challenges including whether a symbol is adequate or gives the right insights. A consideration of how these two views (Randall/Tillich) can be used to help understand religious teachings (strengths) Tasks Complete task 20 on page 17 Read the criticisms on pages 18-19 For each criticism write a summary in your own words and an evaluation of its success Complete task 22 on page 20 Success Criteria Moving on from listing weaknesses to being able to evaluate them. This is a very important skill at A2
Write an essay plan for Explain teleological argument for the existence of God What would you include? What scholars? What examples? What order would you write it in?
