Via negativa (the apophatic way)

Why can language not be used to describe God?

It is inadequate to capture a transcendent, non material God =

How does the Via Negativa allow you to talk about God?

By saying what God is not

Who were the first people to point out the inability to know the essence of God?

1. basil the great
2. Gregory of Nyssa

What analogy did basil the great and Gregory of Nyssa use to demonstrate human inability to understand God ?

Then if humans cannot understand the essence and mind of ant with presumably limited skills we have no chance of understanding God.

What does Evagrius Ponticus say the highest understanding is?

“Pure prayer”- a union with God without words or images

Who made the distinction between the cataphatic way and the apophatic way?

pseudo Dionysius

What type of knowledge is calling god “ the good” etc for supporters of the via negativa ?

Provincial knowledge

What does the via negativa aim to move beyond?

Language all together

What lies behind any concept?

“The divine darkness”

Who was a strong supporter of the via negativa?

John Scotus Eriugena

What does John Soctus Eriugena say about Gods lightness?

“His light is called darkness because of its excellence”

Who adopted the via negativa?

Moses Maimodes

What does anthropomorphise mean?

To treat something inappropriately as human

What does maimodes warn the dangers of ?

Anthropomorphising God

Why is the understanding gained by the Via Negativa criticised?

It is seen as negligible and doesn’t give us a deep insight into the nature of God

Why was W.R inge concerned with the effects of the apophatic way?

that to deny God his description was to lead to “annihilation” of God and humanity

What does stripping God of his description lead to?

Losing the essential link between God and the world

What is the “divination of matter”

finding God through our material existence is part of his divine plan of salvation

What is speaking of God also like speaking of?

Love- we understand it yet cannot fully express it

Which Christian thinkers spoke about the “divinisation of matter”

G.K Chesterton and Pierre Teilhard

Why does the bible undermine the Via Negativa ?

The bible describes God in positive terms

What is an example of God being referred to positively in the bible?

“God is Love”

How does maimodes respond to the fact that God is spoken about in positive terms in the bible and why is this a weak argument ?

Maimodes- Bible written in limited human understanding and therefore needs interpreting

HOWEVER: Bible gives no indication that this is the case

What do some call the Via Negativa approach ?

Pessimistic- leaves humanity with an inability to to understand or say anything about God

How can you argue against the fact that the Via negativa is pessimistic?

Maimodes says that we can still gain “unity” with God once we abandon attempts to understand God with our limited reason

What does the Via Negativa prevent God from being?

a super imagine able being