cataphatic approach

Question 1

cataphatic way

Answer 1

using positive statements- omniscient, omnibenevolent
God transcends all human language and comprehension

Question 2

Thomas Aquinas

Answer 2

the five ways- uncaused causer, unmoved mover which are positive assertions

Question 3

analogy of attribution

Answer 3

where a causal relationship between two things is being described
when we say god love we don’t just mean god is loving but also the cause of love
everything is good because because it is part of the essence of god

Question 4

analogy of proper proportion

Answer 4

when words relate to objects in different proportion
the clever toddler, the clever scientist
gods qualities are on a much vaster scale

Question 5

the apophatic way

Answer 5

words like father suggest human limitations
its only possible to speak about what God is not- this highlight differences between god and humans
- god is immortal, invisible

Question 6

psudeo dionysius

Answer 6

only way we can speak truthfully about God because God is beyond all human understanding and imagination
-counter productive to speak of god through reason or senses
- recognising our limitations that spiritual progress can be made
-God can be found in stillness, silence and embracing God’s mystery

Question 7

Mai monodes

Answer 7

the ship- by saying what the ship is not we get closer to finding out what the ship is

Question 8

Ramsey

Answer 8

• god can be described using models and qualifiers
• models are terms such as righteous and loving
  -we understand because we have a reference point in our own human experience.

Question 9

symbolic language

Answer 9

-Symbols are also used to convey feelings which are difficult to say using ordinary language
-‘ god is my shepherd’