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
