Religious Language

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Cognitive vs Non-Cognitive

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine the debate over whether religious language is cognitive or non-cognitive.
Examine the claim that religious language is cognitive.
Examine the claim that religious language is non-cognitive.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘Religious language should be viewed cognitively.’

Evaluate this claim.

‘Religious language should be viewed non-cognitively.’

Evaluate this claim.

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The Challenges of Verification and Falsification

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how the meaningfulness of religious language has been challenged.
Examine how the verification principle challenges the meaningfulness of religious language.
Examine how the falsification principle challenges the meaningfulness of religious language.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘Religion has no satisfactory response to the challenge of the verification principle.’

Evaluate this claim.

‘The falsification principle shows that religious language is meaningless.’

Evaluate this claim.

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Eschatological Verification with John Hick

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine Hick’s argument that religious language is meaningful because it will be verified eschatologically.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Hick's concept of "eschatological verification" shows that religious language is meaningful.'

Evaluate this claim.

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'Bliks' with R.M. Hare

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine R.M. Hare's argument that religious language is best understood as a "blik."'

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘Hare’s theory of Bliks shows that religious language is meaningful.’

Evaluate this claim.

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Language Games with Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how Wittgenstein's concept of language games can be used to defend the meaningfulness of religious language.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘Language game theory shows that religious language is meaningful.’

Evaluate this claim.

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Signs and Symbols with Paul Tillich

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine Paul Tillich's understanding of religous language as symbolic.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Religious language is best understood as symbolic.'

Evaluate this claim.

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Analogical Language with Thomas Aquinas

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine Thomas Aquinas' claim that religous language is analogical.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Religous language is best understood as analogical.'

Evaluate this claim.

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The via negativa with Pseudo-Dionysius

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine the influence of the via negativa on discussion of religious language.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'It is not possible to say anything meaninful about God.'

Evaluate this claim.

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Comparative

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as a blik.
* Religious language as a language game.
Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as a blik.
* Religious language as symbolic.
Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as a blik.
* Religious language as analogical.
Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as a language game.
* Religious language as a symbolic.
Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as a language game.
* Religious language as analogical.
Examine the meaning of each of the following:
* Religious language as symbolic.
* Religious language as analogical.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Religious language is better understood as a blik than a language game.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious language is better understood as a blik than a symbol.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious language is better understood as a blik than an analogy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious language is better understood as a language game than a symbol.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious language is better understood as a language game than an analogy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious language is better understood as a symbol than an analogy.'

Evaluate this claim.

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