Irreducible Religious Metaphors
A characteristic feature of religious discourse is its tendency to use expressions which are not only metaphorical but irreducibly 'metaphorical', that is to say, which have no literal equivalent. Sophisticated believers freely point out theology's tendency toward the symbolical...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Published: |
[1972]
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| In: |
Religious studies
Year: 1972, Volume: 8, Issue: 4, Pages: 355-366 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | A characteristic feature of religious discourse is its tendency to use expressions which are not only metaphorical but irreducibly 'metaphorical', that is to say, which have no literal equivalent. Sophisticated believers freely point out theology's tendency toward the symbolical', analogical', or 'mysterious'; while equally sophisticated sceptics complain that faith is 'anthropomorphic' or merely 'poetic'. When this discussion between believers and seeptics is confronted with what we may call the reducibility thesis', that metaphors should be reducible to literal statements, a philosophical puzzle results: religious metaphors should be reducible, but they are not. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-901X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religious studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0034412500006120 |