Metaphor and Theological Realism

Authors

  • Sebastian Gäb University of Trier

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.v6i1.192

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that there are indispensable and irreducible metaphors in religious language and that this does not threaten a realist interpretation of religion. I first sketch a realist theory of religious language and argue that we cannot avoid addressing the problems metaphor poses to semantics. I then give a brief account of what it means for a metaphorical sentence to be true and how metaphors can refer to something even if what they mean is not expressible in literal terms. Finally, I discuss how this realist theory of metaphor influences our understanding of negative theology and gives a new perspective on religious pluralism.

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Published

2014-03-21

How to Cite

Gäb, Sebastian. 2014. “Metaphor and Theological Realism”. European Journal for Philosophy of Religion 6 (1):79-92. https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.v6i1.192.