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The Language of the Sacred

The Language of the Sacred. The Sacred Quest, chapter 4. Language and Sacred Reality. What are the limits of our language in describing religious experience? Example: Nirvana Why do we teach children through stories?

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The Language of the Sacred

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  1. The Language of the Sacred The Sacred Quest, chapter 4

  2. Language and Sacred Reality • What are the limits of our language in describing religious experience? • Example: Nirvana • Why do we teach children through stories? • How does hearing a religious story affect you differently than studying a doctrine? • Story of Buddha vs. doctrines of impermanence, no-self, nirvana

  3. Narrative • Used in religion: • To reveal • To teach memorably, personally • To alter relationships • “Religion is my story being shaped by another story” (p. 62) • Life itself has a narrative quality • Certain stories are paradigms, like the Exodus or story of Buddha • Applying the story to one’s life distinguishes mere history from an experience of the sacred

  4. Passover Seder • How does this bring the narrative of the Exodus to life? • In the [modern] text recited by the participants • In the rituals • How is the Seder a story not just about the past (Israelites in Egypt) but the present (Jews today)? • How is the story a paradigm for Jewish experience? • How is it a story about present identity: of God, of Jews, of their relationship? • Does it reveal? Teach? Alter relationships?

  5. Types of religious language • Myth • Universal: expresses fundamental beliefs about relation of sacred reality to humanity and natural world • “Disclose ultimate truth about crucial human questions” (SQ 59) • “Historical” narratives (“stories” in SQ) • particular • Parables • Moral point • Specific, relatable, yet can be applied more broadly • Theology • “second order” reflection on “first order” experience

  6. Myth • One type of narrative • Answers questions about how people relate to sacred reality and to their world • Universal in scope • Does NOT mean “not true” • actually, it discloses an ultimate truth about the world and its relationship to the sacred • Its meaning is not primarily about history (particular time and place) but what is true universally (at all times and places)

  7. Scriptures • Why do most religions have scriptures? • Unites the community (its story is my story) • Compare: American stories, e.g., pilgrims • Privileged disclosure of the sacred • Revelation from God • Must be recognized by the community, given their past experience • Sustain and nourish religious traditions • “Provide a framework for the religious life of the believer” (p 67)

  8. Theology • All religious people are theologians • Reflect on/talk about their experiences of sacred reality • Theology is “second-level discourse” • One step removed from primary experience • “First-level discourse” is language of scripture, prayer, liturgy: directly communicates with sacred reality • Doctrine is also second-level discourse • guides people in thinking about primary experiences • Example: how is Jesus encountered in the eucharist?

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