ABSTRACT
This chapter will show the philosophical and theological reasons why George A. Lindbeck rejects 'cognitive-propositional' approach in favour of a 'cultural-linguistic' model of religion and a rule theory of doctrine. The 'cultural-linguistic' model of religion and a rule theory of doctrine point us in the direction of a trinitarian ethics which is concerned with how faith, love, and hope in God as triune shows itself in the lives of Christian agents and communities. For the cognitivist, it is chiefly technical theology and doctrine which are propositional, while on the model, propositional truth and falsity characterize ordinary religious language when it is used to mold lives through prayer, praise, preaching, and exhortation. Natural theology might be employed to demonstrate that the statement 'God is good'' is meaningful and true, and then one would have to defend the claim that God understands 'her' own goodness in a uniquely divine manner that transcends our limited modes of human understanding.
