The quiet discipline that keeps conversations from falling apart
Language allows us to transfer our thoughts into the minds of others. It serves as a kind of mental probe through which we can share our ideas for other minds to ponder.
As such, language plays a crucial role in conversation. Using the wrong words, or using the right words in the wrong contexts, can have catastrophic consequences and lead to a breakdown in communication.
Communication, as you may already know, is part of the Imago Dei, that is, the “Image of God” that human beings supposedly bear. It enables us to resolve conflicts through dialogue instead of violence. At least, that is what it is supposed to do; yet we live in a world where people are still killed for having differing thoughts.
Given the immense role that language plays in communication, or, more precisely, in the transfer of thought, clarifying terms is equally, if not more, important.
When we say “clarify terms,” we mean establishing clear definitions at the outset. We want to avoid leaving room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding when communicating with our audience or interlocutors.
Clarifying terms ensures that the conversations we have, and the thoughts we share, are expressed in such a way that there is little to no room for misunderstanding, at least not by an honest interlocutor.
In discussions of religion and the philosophy of religion, certain key terms appear frequently. In academic contexts, these may be well understood due to familiarity and repetition, but when speaking to a lay audience, clarification is essential to prevent communication breakdown. Some of these include “the Bible,” “religion,” “argument,” “critical,” and “pseudepigraphical,” among others.
We do not wish to make language more complicated than it needs to be, but we also refuse to engage in lazy philosophizing by using overly simple or imprecise terms when a more accurate one exists and merely requires clarification. Throughout our content, we will at times pause to clarify terms where we deem it necessary.
We hope you enjoy this and learn something from it. Better yet, we hope that if you serve in your place of worship, you begin to employ proper terminology so as to present yourself as a serious engager with the text, terms, and history of the Christian faith.
