Not Beyond Language: Wittgenstein and Lindbeck on the Problem of Speaking about God

The problem of speaking about God arises from the presumed notion that God is utterly transcendent and is “wholly other” from human existence. Moreover, a profound sense of mystery is held to surround God’s being. Even so, Not Beyond Language maintains that it is still possible for human beings to express and describe God in words—that language can bring genuine disclosure and understanding of the divine. However, given that religious language is problematic because inadequate, those who engage in speaking about God must accept that the words they use cannot be pressed to yield precise definitions or complete explanations of the divine. The author proposes a nuanced approach to the use of religious language which revolves more around meaning and relevance of the discourse about divine reality, than objective claims about who or what God is.

Khay Tham Lim is dean of Discipleship Training Centre, Singapore. He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Asian Pastoral Institute, Singapore. Khay Tham studied theology at the Universities of Durham, Tübingen, and Edinburgh. Between stints in academia, he served as the general secretary of the Bible Society of Singapore as well as the National Council of Churches of Singapore. He is the author of The Call to Serve (2008) and has co-edited several publications.