truth of broken symbols, The

Book Description

Religious symbols surround us in countless forms, from ancient sacred texts to contemporary spiritual practices, yet their deeper meaning and function often remain mysterious. Robert C. Neville tackles this profound question by examining how religious symbols actually work across different cultures and spiritual traditions.

Drawing from both theological insight and philosophical rigor, Neville explores a fascinating paradox at the heart of religious experience. He demonstrates that authentic spiritual symbols must simultaneously point toward divine realities while remaining humble enough to avoid becoming objects of worship themselves. This delicate balance requires what he calls "broken" symbols that maintain their power to connect us with the sacred without claiming to fully contain or control it.

The book develops a comprehensive framework for understanding religious symbolism through the lens of American pragmatic philosophy, building upon earlier theological work while offering fresh perspectives. Neville examines how symbols function differently in various contexts, whether in formal theology, personal devotional practice, or communal worship.

Rather than dismissing religious symbols as mere metaphors or cultural artifacts, this work argues that they can be genuinely true or false in their capacity to engage divine realities. The author shows how symbol-systems like myths, theological doctrines, and liturgical elements operate through complex structures of reference, meaning, and interpretation.

For readers seeking to deepen their understanding of how spiritual traditions communicate sacred truths, this cross-cultural analysis offers valuable insights into the mechanics of religious meaning-making.