Language Game, Community, and Doctrine Wittgensteinian foundations for a theology of praxis

Abstract

This article examines how Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later philosophy—particularly the notions of “language game” and “form of life”—provides foundations for rethinking Christian theology as communal praxis. It argues that the meaning of religious language emerges from use in shared practices, challenging both the traditional representationalist model and soteriological individualism. Drawing on Wittgenstein’s private language argument, the article shows that Christian faith is inherently communal for principled reasons, not merely pastoral convenience. Furthermore, it offers a critical appropriation of George Lindbeck’s cultural-linguistic model, acknowledging its contributions while identifying its limitations in light of a closer reading of Wittgenstein. The article concludes that theology, understood as a form of life, is constructed through liturgical interaction and ecclesial mediation, where doctrines function not as a closed system but as the living grammar of faith.