T. F. Torrance's concept of 'imageless images' is basic
to his epistemology, in particular, his concept of the relation of language to
being. In his book, Reality and Evangelical Theology (InterVarsity,
1999) for example, he talks about the way in which symbolic thinking leads to
dualism (p. 27). That is, we use symbols to construct in our minds 'imges' of
reality which we draw out of our experience and observation. He argues that
this leads to epistemological dualism. Torrance's own view is that the images
we use (words/ symbols) point beyond themselves to realities for which our
'images' are inadequate, but necessary. He often used the
illustration in class that the relation between words and that which words
represemnt cannot be expressed in words! Also, the relation
between that which a picture seeks to represent if it is a 'picture of
something' and the 'thing itself' cannot be expressed by 'drawing another
picture' (image). There is a 'zero point' he used to say in such an endeavor
where we surrender our minds to the reality of the thing itself that exists
beyond the images we use to represent it.
Well Lance, DavidM suggested I pay attention to this - but I don't find
it relevant to what we have been discussing.
Torrance is addressing the natural and I am addressing the
spiritual. Mankind does not understand spiritual truth by way of
"images". God knowing how prone we are to idolatry has not left us an
imagine of Himself. Noone knows what Jesus looked like in the flesh and of
course there is no image of the Holy Spirit who is like the wind, we know
where he has been because we see the results. Tell me what is the image
of faith, love and/or justice?
Torrance argues that this is
exactly what the physicist must do when using images to
depict the invisible reality of sub atomic particles. "This involves
the disciple of thinking in such a way that, through highly refined symbolic
or formal structures, images are made to refer imagelessly to the realities
intended." (p. 63} "That is to say, all our theoretical statements
fall short of the reality they indicate and are constantly revisable in the
light of it." (p. 66).
Torrance is trying to merge natural with
spiritual just like Aquinas did when he tried to merge Aristotle with
scripture. God reveals Himself to us in his own way and it is by using
words - words given by prophets that He has chosen; words containing life and
light; words inspired by the Holy Spirit none of which makes any sense to the
carnal mind. We receive them by faith and when we are willing to do this
understanding comes from God.
Dead religion along with the occult
is what clings to images, symbols, and icons - judyt
