The Philosophy of Religious Language

An introduction to the developments in philosophy of language in this century, and to the way these developments have impinged upon religious language, particularly Christian discourse. It focuses on exposition of the different approaches, with attention upon central thinkers and texts.

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This text provides an introduction to the developments in philosophy of language in this century, and to the way these developments have impinged upon religious language, particularly Christian discourse. Most treatments of the subject focus on the relevance of analytical philosophy of language with its verificational and functional phases. These important movements are included, but the text also covers important historical debates about religious language along with several other contemporary movements that have had increasing impact upon biblical studies and theology, such as hermeneutical philosophy, philosophy of metaphor, narrative, structuralism and poststructuralism. The book focuses on exposition of the different approaches, with attention upon central thinkers and texts. In each case, however, the philosophy of language is also connected with its major appropriation in religious studies. Since one cannot exactly keep these approaches distinct, places of cross-fertilization and reaction are indicated, with the intent of providing an expanding conversation as the book progresses.