A Question of Words

Extract

Every modern estimate of the religious situation in our country has laid stress on the drift from religion which is increasingly apparent and ever more serious in its effects. Not only is there widespread indifference to the claims of Christianity, but the separation between those within the Churches and those outside grows more decisive and complete. In habit and outlook, in conduct and ways of life, the contrast between Christian and non-Christian standards becomes more and more clearly marked.

Every diagnosis of this situation and every prescription for its remedy raises the question of words and their use. Even if we do not agree that the drift from religion is due to outworn theological terminology or to meaningless pulpit jargon alone, we must recognise that misunderstanding and indifference are often increased by the strangeness of the Christian vocabulary in the ears of the modern man. “ We feel bound to make some attempt to translate certain theological statements of the Eternal Gospel into language such as present-day hearers might themselves employ to express spiritual needs of which they are acutely conscious.” In making this statement the authors of Towards the Conversion of England, (p. 24) quote from the Archbishops' Report on Training for the Ministry, (para. 107): “Full attention should be given to training ordinands in the power of translating the technical language of theology into terms understood by ordinary people.”