To kick off the lecture series "Language and Transcendence" from the Paderborn Institute of Islamic Theology, Deputy Professor Dr Raid Al-Daghistani from Paderborn University will be giving a lecture on Thursday, 9 October, from 6 p.m. on the topic of "An-Niffarī, mystical annihilation in God (ma?w) and the criticism of letters". All dates of the lecture series will take place digitally via Zoom.

Language and transcendence

Under the title "(Un)certainty of language and the (in-)absoluteness of divine transcendence: On the role of linguistic mediation in religious truth systems", the contributions to the lecture series examine how different religious traditions deal with the insight that language not only communicates, but always also interprets, contextualises, transforms and thus creates uncertainty as well as meaning. The aim of the online lecture series is a systematic and critical examination of the (un)certainty of language as a constitutive element of religious truth(s). In particular, the aim is to shed light on how this (in)certainty affects the claim of transcendence, namely whether it undermines it or makes it possible in the first place. The lecture series combines theological, philosophical, linguistic, religious studies and mystical perspectives. The aim is to show that reflection on language is not merely a question of form, but of content - and thus central to any understanding of truth and transcendence in a complex, globalised world.

Further information on the lecture series and the dates can be found on the event page.

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