In Ramsey's theory, what do "models and qualifiers" refer to in religious language?

In Ramsey's theory, "models and qualifiers" refer to the way religious language makes assertions about the divine by drawing on human experiences and concepts. Models serve as a framework for understanding God by using familiar terms, whereas qualifiers adjust the meaning to account for the divine nature of God, emphasizing that these terms are often limited and require careful interpretation. This dual aspect helps articulate the complexities of religious language—it acknowledges both humanity's attempts to describe the divine and the need for nuance in that description.

In this context, the other options are less accurate as they do not capture the essence of how Ramsey views religious language. While the tests for religious validation pertain to evaluating the truth claims in religious contexts, they do not specifically address the nature of language use. Similarly, while words that attempt to disclose God's meaning can be seen as part of models, they do not encompass the qualifier aspect which adjusts those meanings. Lastly, emotional expressions of faith focus more on the subjective experience rather than the nuanced language that Ramsey's models and qualifiers illustrate.