Language
Language is a powerful, wonderful and dangerous thing. Language really frames our concept of reality, providing not only for communication but thoughts, dreams, etc. Through language we are able to exist as a society. Also, through language we break each other down. Words bring relationships to a beginning, and often to a tragic end. Words create bonds intendend to last for eternity, and they pronounce judgement on the guilty, sometimes even removing life. It is no wonder that God confused language at the Tower of Babel -- language is the means by which men would attain to be God, to try to think God's thoughts. Language is also the means by which God unifies us all into salvation -- through the written and spoken revelation recorded in the Scriptures. Still, even these written words divide people and create misunderstanding at best.
I can see continually how my words are misunderstood and misinterpreted. I can also see how my words place me into a certain category in other peoples' eyes. We use words to categorize and to polarize, to place ideas and even people into neatly defined boxes. Labels are composed of words -- words like "Christian", "church", "postmodern", "Calvinist", etc. When I attempt to speak about any of the concepts that these words represent, ultimately I will be misunderstood by my readers. Why? Because words carry emotional, experiential connotations that I cannot circumvent. As you are reading this, you probably have some type of categorization of a "Calvinist", for example. If I call myself a Calvinist, does this define who I am? Are you then able to arrange me into a certain box, the box in which you place Calvinists? Do you agree with them, and therefore place me into a favorable box, or do you disagree, and place me on the negative side? Or perhaps your opinions are between the two poles, and you place me into a temporary holding pattern until you can gain more information. Maybe you could care less about whether or not I am a Calvinist. But I think you will eventually classify me according to my words and yours.
Can we get at the meaning behind the words? Can we discuss postmodernism, or anything else, without presuppositions clouding every sentence? Or at least, can we step into the shoes of the other, can you experience my presuppositions as your own, to see where I stand?
I can see continually how my words are misunderstood and misinterpreted. I can also see how my words place me into a certain category in other peoples' eyes. We use words to categorize and to polarize, to place ideas and even people into neatly defined boxes. Labels are composed of words -- words like "Christian", "church", "postmodern", "Calvinist", etc. When I attempt to speak about any of the concepts that these words represent, ultimately I will be misunderstood by my readers. Why? Because words carry emotional, experiential connotations that I cannot circumvent. As you are reading this, you probably have some type of categorization of a "Calvinist", for example. If I call myself a Calvinist, does this define who I am? Are you then able to arrange me into a certain box, the box in which you place Calvinists? Do you agree with them, and therefore place me into a favorable box, or do you disagree, and place me on the negative side? Or perhaps your opinions are between the two poles, and you place me into a temporary holding pattern until you can gain more information. Maybe you could care less about whether or not I am a Calvinist. But I think you will eventually classify me according to my words and yours.
Can we get at the meaning behind the words? Can we discuss postmodernism, or anything else, without presuppositions clouding every sentence? Or at least, can we step into the shoes of the other, can you experience my presuppositions as your own, to see where I stand?