The apophatic way- via negativa (OCR A-Level Religious Studies): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
ShowHide
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
Via negativa definition
Via negativa definition
Saying what God is NOT to avoid undermining His transcendence
Why use via negativa?
Why use via negativa?
Human language cannot fully capture a transcendent God
Basil & Gregory of Nyssa on God's essence
Basil & Gregory of Nyssa on God's essence
Humans cannot know the essence of God
Evagrius: highest understanding of God
Evagrius: highest understanding of God
'Pure prayer' - mind free from distraction, no words/images
Evagrius: what lies beyond human concepts?
Evagrius: what lies beyond human concepts?
'Divine darkness'
John Scotus Eriugena on God
John Scotus Eriugena on God
God is beyond all meaning and intelligence
Maimonides' warning about God
Maimonides' warning about God
Dangers of anthropomorphising God
Aquinas: via negativa is a...
Aquinas: via negativa is a...
Prelude to understanding God
Aquinas: saying what God is not does what?
Aquinas: saying what God is not does what?
Tells us something about God nonetheless
Brian Davis criticism of via negativa
Brian Davis criticism of via negativa
Provides no knowledge about God (annihilation)
W.R. Inge criticism of via negativa
W.R. Inge criticism of via negativa
Leads to 'annihilation of both God and humanity'
Chesterton & de Chordin concept
Chesterton & de Chordin concept
'Divination of matter' - finding God through material existence