The argument is made that naming God is never really naming God but only naming our understanding of God. To take our ideas of the divine and hold them as if they correspond to the reality of God is thus to construct a conceptual idol built from the materials of our mind.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that our names and concepts of God are merely reflections of our own understanding, not the true nature of the divine.
Peter Rollins emphasizes that when we name or define God, we are not capturing the essence of God itself, but rather articulating our limited interpretations and understandings. This action can lead to the creation of a 'conceptual idol', a representation that is inherently flawed and only reflective of our mental constructs rather than the ultimate reality of God.
In practice
In a philosophical discussion on the nature of divinity.
To all new truths, or renovation of old truths, it must be as in the ark between the destroyed and the about-to-be renovated world. The raven must be sent out before the dove, and ominous controversy must precede peace and the olive wreath.
Man has always sacrificed truth to his vanity, comfort and advantage. He lives not by truth but by make-believe.
In thinking about religion and society in the 21st century, we should broaden the conversation about faith from doctrinal debates to the larger question of how it might inspire us to strengthen the bonds of belonging that redeem us from our solitude, helping us to construct together a gracious and generous social order.
At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.
Emancipated' women found out that the honesty, generosity, and camaraderie of men was a lie.
Those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy - the most sublime and benevolent, but most perverted system that ever shone on man - endeavored to crush your well-earned & well-deserved fame.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.