Divine discourse

Divine discourse

By Nicholas Wolterstorff

Book Description

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.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)

📄 Length: 326 pages

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 Covered

Christianisme Gott Religious aspects of Speech acts (Linguistics) Speech acts (Linguistics) Woord Gods Word (theology) Discours direct dans la Bible Godsbegrip Aspect religieux Language and languages, religious aspects Word of God (Christian theology) Language and languages Hermeneutiek Langage et langues Actes de parole Taalhandelingen Philosophie Word of God (Theology) Religious aspects Direct discourse in the Bible Sprechakt Parole de Dieu (Théologie) Doctrinal Theology Religious aspects of Language and languages Openbaring Christianity

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