1. By the end of today’s lesson you will
Understand what is meant by ‘religious language’.
Understand the following inherent problems of religious language:
Limitations of language for traditional conceptions of God such as infinite and timeless
Challenge to sacred texts and religious pronouncements as unintelligible
Challenge that religious language is not a common shared base and experience

2. Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 4: Religious Language
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
A: Inherent problems of religious language:
Limitations of language for traditional conceptions of God such as infinite and timeless
Challenge to sacred texts and religious pronouncements as unintelligible
Challenge that religious language is not a common shared base and experience
The differences between cognitive and non-cognitive language.

3. Starter – Card Sort
Sort into two categories.

4. What is religious language?
God talk!
It is the way people speak about what they believe and why they believe it.
It encompasses worship, practice, morality, dogma and doctrine.

5. Religious language includes words that are:
Unique in the description of God. E.g.
Omnipotent

6. Religious language includes words that are:
Descriptions of religious beliefs. E.g.
- b + ing
Second coming

7. Religious language includes words that are:
Religious technical terms E.g.
Sin

8. Religious language includes words that are:
Everyday terms that are given a religious meaning E.g.
Love

9. The alphabet challenge!
You have one minute to write a religious word for each letter of the alphabet. 40 41 39 43 44 38 42 36 33 32 34 35 45 37 47 56 55 57 58 60 59 54 53 48 31 49 50 52 51 46 29 9 8 10 11 13 12 7 6 1
End 2 3 5 4 14 15 24 23 25 26 28 27 22 21 17 16 18 19 20 30

10. Don’t forget to be writing notes from the class feedback!
Think – Pair - Share
Look at your list of ‘religious’ words and using points raised in the lesson so far …
Think – What are the inherent problems of religious language and challenges to its meaningfulness?
Pair – Discuss your ideas with your partner.
Share – Feedback to the class.
Don’t forget to be writing notes from the class feedback!

11. Problems with religious language
Read the information independently.
In pairs/threes read a sentence each out loud.
Take it in turns to explain to your partner one problem with religious language.

12. Illogical Words such as ‘Virgin Birth’ contradict our logic.
If God is omnipotent then God could create a human being who will never listen to God’s words. However, if God is omnipotent, God should be able to get this human to listen to God’s words.

13. Abstract, metaphysical, puzzling
Some people say, ‘God is timeless’. If we live in time, how can we understand or experience a God who is transcendent?
Metaphysical =
Beyond the physical
E.g. Spirit

14. Limited human language
Human language inadequate to describe God.

15. Anthropomorphising Anthropomorphism =
Giving human qualities to something non-human.
If we give God characteristics, particularly human attributes, we risk anthropomorphising God.

16. Univocal language
Univocal =
Same word, same meaning.
E.g. ‘Love’.

17. Interpretation Literal versus non-literal
E.g. Creation – 6 days of 24 hours or periods of time. Factual or myth?

18. Equivocal Equivocal = Same word, different meaning E.g. Spirit …
Team spirit, alcohol, ghost, non-physical element that survives death.

19. Unverifiable
Verify =
Prove something true.

20. Inherent Problems with Religious Language
Read pages 6-8 of the Eduqas text book.

21. Inherent problems
Limitations of language for traditional conceptions of God as infinite and timeless
We tend to understand language that we experience – most of our language refers to the physical world
Therefore, it is difficult to have OR understand language about God
The very fact that God is timeless and infinite is almost impossible to describe or understand to us finite and mortal beings

22. Inherent problems
Challenges to sacred texts and religious pronouncements is unintelligible
It is difficult to understand a lot of religious language if you aren’t in that context
A lot of religious ‘language’ is wrapped up in ritual and practise

23. AO1 write-up
Explain the inherent problems of religious language (20 marks)
Use PEEL
You need to write a paragraph on each of the following points:
Limitations of language for traditional conceptions of God such as infinite and timeless
Challenge to sacred texts and religious pronouncements as unintelligible
Challenge that religious language is not a common shared base and experience
Your answer needs to be concise – don’t simply copy from the text book.
Remember to incorporate relevant ideas and examples from today’s lesson beyond those mentioned in the Eduqas book. E.g. In which paragraph could you include Vardy’s fish example?