Evaluation of Analogy

Evaluation of the use of analogy for ‘God-talk’

Strengths	Weaknesses
1. Defects the problems raised by equivocal and univocal language.	1. If we say John is bad is that also a refection of God’s attribute? How do we know which analogies are appropriate to God.
2. Shows religious language is not absurd and can provide some understanding of God.	2. Duns Scotus argues that it is vague and leaves us unable to understand God and his actions.
3. It avoids anthropomorphism.	3. Assumes similarity between humans and God which is difficult to accept if God is an external being which is completely different to humans.
4. Hick argues that enables to make statements yet still preseve the mysterious element to the Judaeo-Christian God.	4. In respect to the analogy of proportion, is it really possible to make comparisons between necessary and contingent beings, its like comparing apples and pears.
5. Affirm the nature of the deity to the believer as well as allowing the believer to believe they are in a purposeful relationship with the deity	5. Why bother with religious language if God is mysterious? It is far too neat - is the believer just trying to have his cake and eat it.
	6. Patrick Sherry points out the believers usually use religious claims literally not analogically.