Contemporary Criticisms of Christian Language

Abstract

HE question of language is a primary issue for theology today. Indeed, in the broad sense that theology is neither more nor less than the continuing criticism and reassessment of the language of the church, the question of language is always the question. Today, however, the question is being raised in a special way; there is a distinctive character to the challenge. Even though theology is always given to an examination of certain key words within the language of faith-such words as Atonement and Holy Spirit-it is not often that the language itself has been questioned. But this is precisely the case at the present time. Hence, the current question is not, What does the word 'Atonement' mean? but instead, Is 'Atonement' a legitimate word ? The purpose of this article is to assay a large portion of the frontier where such questions are being raised. This entails, of course, the risk of oversimplification. In identifying certain of the more formidable critics within and without the Christian