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
