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A Primal Perspective on the Philosophy of ReligionThe Problems of Religious Language

A Primal Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion: The Problems of Religious Language CHAPTER X The Distinctive Nature of Religious Language Religious language is distinct. What could such a statement mean, for apparently the same language, whether used in a religious or nonreligious linguistic context, remains the same; what could be distinctive about it is only the possibility that it is used in a distinctive way. The expression could have two other meanings. (1) That the followers of a religion really use two languages, as when a religious Islamic community might use only Arabic in a religious context and its own ‘native’ language in other contexts. (2) It could also mean that the religious community possesses a sacred text, which is in the same language as its language of secular discourse, like Hebrew in modern Israel. ‘Religious language is distinct’ would then mean that scriptural Hebrew is viewed as distinct from ordinary Hebrew. It is important to begin by raising these issues as Western discussions of religious language generally presuppose the existence of literature, if not scriptures, as part and parcel of a religious tradition to such an extent that To speak of the philosophy of cultures that had no literature may seem inappropriate, but there are parallels for this. The ancient http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Primal Perspective on the Philosophy of ReligionThe Problems of Religious Language

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Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Copyright
© Springer 2006
ISBN
978-1-4020-5013-8
Pages
139 –155
DOI
10.1007/1-4020-5014-3_10
Publisher site
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Abstract

CHAPTER X The Distinctive Nature of Religious Language Religious language is distinct. What could such a statement mean, for apparently the same language, whether used in a religious or nonreligious linguistic context, remains the same; what could be distinctive about it is only the possibility that it is used in a distinctive way. The expression could have two other meanings. (1) That the followers of a religion really use two languages, as when a religious Islamic community might use only Arabic in a religious context and its own ‘native’ language in other contexts. (2) It could also mean that the religious community possesses a sacred text, which is in the same language as its language of secular discourse, like Hebrew in modern Israel. ‘Religious language is distinct’ would then mean that scriptural Hebrew is viewed as distinct from ordinary Hebrew. It is important to begin by raising these issues as Western discussions of religious language generally presuppose the existence of literature, if not scriptures, as part and parcel of a religious tradition to such an extent that To speak of the philosophy of cultures that had no literature may seem inappropriate, but there are parallels for this. The ancient

Published: Jan 1, 2006

Keywords: Religious Tradition; Language Game; Religious Context; Religious Language; White Copper

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