Summary Of The Language Of Religion Lewis

For this paper, I was chosen to write on the topic of, The Language of Religion. This is a short essay written by Lewis in the book, “Christian Reflections.” In this essay, Lewis opens by telling what he has been asked to talk about. His first statement is to say that in his opinion, there is no specific religious language. A statement in the first paragraph shows that Lewis believes the language of religion (distinguished from theology) is the same as ordinary language or even that of the language of poetry. However, it could also be between the two. In order to make this clearer, Lewis begins this essay by turning away from the topic and begin by talking purely on language. Lewis begins by giving three statements. (1) “It was very cold.”
For Lewis, Poetic language doesn’t consist of discharging or arousing more emotion; it could but it doesn’t really matter. For this language, it is more about the invitation of senses. From here pages 4 and 5 of the manuscript are missing which makes it hard to know what he talks about on page 6. However, I can pick up that Lewis seems to think there is a difference between understanding another person’s fear by expressing it well and being actually infected by his fear. However, the really important point he wants us to come away with is even if emotions are aroused, emotions may not be is sole or chief function; dealing with Poetic language. The best way of describing something is by getting what reactions are provoked in us. This quote by Lewis explains it best, “To say that things were blue, or heard, or cool, or foul smelling, or noisy, is to tell how they affected our senses. To say that someone is a bore, or a decent chap, or revolting is to tell how he affected our emotions.” Poetic language should inform us about the object; the object which aroused the
For him this language is not a special language, but rather something that ranges between the Ordinary and the Poetical. It begins by being Ordinary and from there can either go into Theological or Poetical language. “I believe in God” is an Ordinary statement. However, when asked what we mean by “God” we can move in either two directions. The first would response could be either Theological by saying, “I believe in incorporeal (having no physical body or form) entity…” This can also be taken in the Poetic direction. Instead of answering ‘incorporeal entity’ to the question, you could possibly say ‘God is love’ or ‘the Father of lights’ and so