Analogy
The approach, developed by Aquinas, that religious language uses analogy to speak meaningfully of God. Terms (good, powerful, knowing) apply to both God and creatures analogously—not univocally (identically) nor equivocally (completely differently) but proportionally. Analogy allows meaningful God-talk avoiding both anthropomorphism and agnosticism.
Real World
When Pope Francis describes God as a 'good shepherd' or a 'tender father', theologians argue this is analogical language — not claiming God literally herds sheep, but that divine care proportionally resembles the best human parenting, just as Aquinas intended.
Exam Focus
Examiners expect you to distinguish analogy of attribution from analogy of proportion; name Aquinas and contrast his view explicitly with univocal and equivocal alternatives.
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