Speaking of God: Theology, Language and TruthIn this theological tour de force D. Stephen Long addresses a key question in current theological debate: the conditions of the possibility of God-talk, along with attending questions about natural theology, fideism, and theological truth-claims. He engages not only the most significant contemporary theologians and philosophers on this score (Denys Turner, Bruce Marshall, Charles Taylor, Fergus Kerr) but also the legacy of twentieth-century theology (Barth, von Balthasar) and the analytic philosophical tradition from Wittgenstein to Davidson. Throughout, Long sustains a careful exegetical engagement with Aquinas, showing that what s at stake in contemporary theology is just how we inherit St. Thomas. / Central to Long s project is averting the charge of fideism so often laid at the feet of postliberal approaches (like his own). To that end Long argues for a (chastened) natural theology, while challenging any simple distinction between natural and confessional theology. / In joining these many voices into one conversation, Long does a remarkable job of surveying the current theological scene with respect to issues of language and truth, arguing for the need to deal head-on with classical questions of metaphysics. . . . An excellent and significant book. James K. A. Smith / Calvin College / Long s discussion of the topic of God and language offers a refreshingly original treatment of traditional approaches. His book cannot be ignored by anyone interested in this topic at any level. John Milbank / University of Nottingham |
Contents
Speaking of God in Modernity | 21 |
Faith and Reason | 83 |
The Divine Name | 149 |
The Loss of the Divine Names and Speaking Well of God | 180 |
Language | 215 |
Truth | 261 |
327 | |
Common terms and phrases
account of truth affirm analogia entis analytic philosophy Aquinas Aquinas's argues argument assumes Augustinianism Balthasar Barthianism Catholic Christ Christian Christology Church Dogmatics claim concept context creation creatures critique denies distinction divine names Divine Science epistemology existence faith and reason fallibilism Feuerbach fideism God’s grace grammar guage Guarino Hauerwas Holmer human hypostatic union immanence incarnation intellect Jesus John Milbank John Paul Karl Barth knowledge liberal linguistic turn logic Lubac meaning meta metaphysical objectivism Milbank and Pickstock mode of signifying modern theology moral natural theology negation negative theology nouvelle théologie object ontotheology participation perfection politics position possible postmodern predicate Preller problem proposition question Radical Radical Orthodoxy rational realism reality recognize rejects revelation Rorty sacred doctrine Scripture seeks sense speak speech Stout supernatural theologians theology’s theory of truth thing Thomas Thomist tion transcendental true Turner understanding University Press univocity virtues Wittgenstein words