God-Talk: A Guide for the Perplexed

This is an introduction to the nature and goals of God-talk from a Christian perspective. The author start by addressing the question of what God-talk is and discuss the nature and aims of God-talk in terms of the worship of God by the church and the formation of saints within the church. This discussion contrasts the doxological and formative nature of God-talk with the disintegration of God-talk from modern life using economic and medical practices as examples. Ryan S. Peterson uses a variety of contexts in which God-talk occurs and the authors develop their thesis in conversation with major figures - Thomas Aquinas, Ludwig Wittgenstein, John Calvin, Karl Barth - who have shaped contemporary reflection on God-talk. The narrative also analyses various metaphorical and analogous expressions, the theological basis for theological translation understood in light of God's movement toward us in the incarnation; as well as discussing the biblical literature, liturgy and theology and their contributions to the church's speech about God.