What is the difference between a sign and a symbol?

The use of symbol to express human understanding of God; The views of Paul Tillich

Learning outcome To be able to understand the use of symbol to express human understanding of God. To able to explain the views of Paul Tillich on religious language.

Paul Tillich (1885-1965) Paul Tillich was a theologian who believed that it is possible to speak meaningfully about metaphysical concepts and came up with the theory that religious language, because it is symbolic in nature, has a profound effect upon humans. Tillich argued that metaphors and symbols help us to a better understanding of God and of religious experience, ‘they open up levels of reality which were otherwise closed to us’. He argued that symbols can take us beyond the world available to our senses into the ‘internal reality of symbol'; a symbol ‘unlocks dimensions and elements of our soul’.

Signs and symbols Paul Tillich starts by making a distinction between signs and symbols. Both point to something beyond themselves i.e. they mean something else. But there is a crucial difference. Tillich said that signs do not participate in what they symbolise. This means that without knowing what a signs means, they would make no sense. Also, all these signs do is point to a statement such as ‘you can now travel at the national speed limit’ they have no other effect. A symbol ‘participates in’ that to which it points, and a religious symbol points towards God, a person’s ‘ultimate concern’ (Dynamics of Faith)

Think, Pair, Share Sign or Symbol?

Symbols Symbols on the other hand are powerful and they actually take part in the power and meaning of what they symbolise. If you look at a cross, this is the symbol of Christianity. Not only does it stand as a marker for that religion, but it also makes a powerful statement. It immediately reminds Christians of the sacrifice they believe Jesus to have made on the cross for them, it also reminds them of their beliefs about God and his plan for the salvation of human beings. In this way, a symbol communicates much more powerfully with us. Tillich believed that religious language operates as a symbol. He defined symbols very broadly, including visual images, rituals, saints, stories and even ideas.

Tillich outlined four main functions that symbols perform: They point to something beyond themselves. They participate in that to which they point. Symbols open up levels of reality that otherwise are closed to us. They also open up the levels and dimensions of the soul that correspond to those levels of reality. According to Tillich, we use religious symbolic language as a means of coming to terms with human existence. For example, we use the symbol of God as a creator to help us come to terms with our place in the universe and our purpose of being here.

Think, pair, share A: What is a sign according to Tillich? B: What is a symbol according to Tillich? A: Give one function of a symbol B: Give one function of a symbol

Symbolic Language is like art Tillich argued that symbolic language operates in much the same way that a piece of music or a work of art or poetry might. They can have a deep and profound effect upon us that we can only explain in a limited way, and the explanation would only really be understood by someone else who has seen that same work of art. Also, symbols, like works of art, can open up new levels of reality for us and offer a new perspective on life.

Dynamics of Faith Read through the extract of Tillich’s book… Add any key ideas to a mind map in your notes. Tillich on Symbol Top Philosopher task: Would you say Tillich supports the Via Negativa? Stretch yourself: Tillich refers to God as the ‘being-itself’. Find out what he means by this.

Read through the notes on Tillich and complete the table… Strengths of Tillich Weaknesses of Tillich Stretch yourself: What are JH Randall’s views on religious language?

Insightful Conclusion? ‘Philosophers such as Tillich, failed to improve on other philosophical attempts to express religious ideas.’ Discuss Write a conclusion for this essay question…

Being-Itself Tillich maintained that religious language is a symbolic way of pointing towards the ultimate reality, the vision of God which he called ‘Being-Itself.’ Being-Itself is that upon which everything else depends for its being and Tillich believed that we came to knowledge of this through symbols which direct us to it. Research more detail about the ‘Being-Itself’ and create a mind-map with the information.