Let us then investigate how analogical language plays a prominent role in Christian theology.
First, some words about the language of God talk: Talk about God can be univocal, equivocal or analogical.
Univocal language – When a term is used univocally it is being given exactly the same meaning in two different contexts, e.g., we would say of both a dog and a cat that each is a mammal.
Equivocal language – This is to give a word two completely different and unrelated meanings. It is purely accidental that the word sounds the same in each case. Thus the word ‘bat’ can be used of an object in the game of cricket and of a flying animal.
Any attempt at God-talk faces the following dilemma. We must use language derived from everyday experience. If we refer to God without qualifications, we make God part of the finite world. If we dichotomize human language from a God who is totally other, we empty our God-talk of meaning. As Frederick Ferré expresses it, ‘If univocal, then language falls into anthropomorphism and cannot be about God: if equivocal, then language bereft of its meaning leads to agnosticism and cannot for us be about God’ (p.105).
Analogical Language in God-Talk –Special Reference to Unity and Diversity in the Trinity
For Part 1 – Analogy in Theological Language
For Part 3 – Analogy in Theological Language: A Model of the Trinity
Analogical Language in God-talk
Let us then investigate how analogical language plays a prominent role in Christian theology.
First, some words about the language of God talk: Talk about God can be univocal, equivocal or analogical.
Univocal language – When a term is used univocally it is being given exactly the same meaning in two different contexts, e.g., we would say of both a dog and a cat that each is a mammal.
Equivocal language – This is to give a word two completely different and unrelated meanings. It is purely accidental that the word sounds the same in each case. Thus the word ‘bat’ can be used of an object in the game of cricket and of a flying animal.
Any attempt at God-talk faces the following dilemma. Continue reading “Analogy in Theological Language (Part 2)”