Divine discourse
philosophical reflections on the claim that God speaks
Nicholas Wolterstorff
326 pages | ~9 hrs
Divine discourse
philosophical reflections on the claim that God speaks
By Nicholas Wolterstorff
In Divine Discourse, philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff tackles one of the most fundamental yet underexplored questions in religious thought: what does it mean when we say that God speaks? While this concept appears throughout the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, surprisingly little philosophical attention has been devoted to understanding how divine communication actually works.
Wolterstorff brings fresh analytical rigor to this ancient question by applying contemporary speech-action theory to divine communication. Rather than treating God's speech as merely another form of revelation, he examines it as genuine communicative action. Through careful philosophical analysis, he demonstrates that the idea of God performing speech acts is both logically coherent and philosophically defensible.
The exploration extends beyond theory into practical interpretation. How should we read sacred texts if we believe God is speaking through them? Wolterstorff addresses this hermeneutical challenge while engaging with influential thinkers like Ricoeur and Derrida. He defends the legitimacy of seeking authorial intent in interpretation and examines the complex dynamics that occur when one person's words become incorporated into another's discourse.
The work culminates in examining a crucial epistemological question: are we justified in believing that God actually speaks? This comprehensive philosophical investigation offers readers a rigorous framework for understanding divine communication that bridges ancient religious claims with contemporary analytical philosophy, providing tools for deeper engagement with questions of faith and meaning.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Gott
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Speech acts (Linguistics)
- ✓ Explore Speech acts (Linguistics)
- ✓ Explore Woord Gods
- ✓ Explore Word (theology)
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Godsbegrip
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1995
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- ISBN-10
- 0521475392
- Pages
- 326
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- BT180.W67 W65 1995
