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Full Idea
There cannot be any transcendent truths of religion, for the sentences which the theist uses to express such 'truths' are not literally significant.
Gist of Idea
The 'truths' expressed by theists are not literally significant
Source
A.J. Ayer (Language,Truth and Logic [1936], Ch.6)
Book Ref
Ayer,A.J.: 'Language, Truth and Logic' [Penguin 1974], p.155
A Reaction
Ayer claims that only tautologies or empirically verifiable statements have literal significance. I say speculations, wild theories and fantasies are perfectly meaningful. Nevertheless, the words of many hymns and prayers look like empty rhetoric.
5209 | The 'truths' expressed by theists are not literally significant [Ayer] |
1470 | Belief in an afterlife may be unverifiable in this life, but it will be verifiable after death [Hick, by PG] |
1471 | It may be hard to verify that we have become immortal, but we could still then verify religious claims [Hick, by PG] |