RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE: The Via Negativa

Question 1

What is the Via Negativa/the apophatic way?

Answer 1

Suggests we can only talk about God in negative terms e.g. God is not evil

Question 2

Why might supporters of the Via Negativa approach argue that God can’t be spoken of in positive terms?

Answer 2

He is transcendent

To use human language to describe God would limit our understanding of Him

Question 3

Supporters of the Via Negativa: Pseudo Dionysuis

Answer 3

This 6th century Christian philosopher argued that people should recognise God as a mystery because he is ‘the perfect and unique cause of all things’

Question 4

Supporters of the Via Negativa: Aquinas

Answer 4

Argued that by reducing the possibilities of what something could be, you gain understanding of what it could be. ‘This is the ultimate in human knowledge of God: to know that we do not know Him’

Question 5

Supporters of the Via Negativa: Moses Maimonides

Answer 5

Jewish philosopher who argued that people move closer to approaching what God is by coming to an understanding of what He is not. In ‘The Guide for the Perplexed’: the 10th person has almost arrived at the correct notion of a ship by foregoing negative attributes

Question 6

Strengths of the via Negativa

Answer 6

Avoids using inadequate human language to describe God

Conveys the mystery and transcendence of God

Question 7

Weaknesses of the Via Negativa

Answer 7

Can be seen as a logical contradiction- are you really describing God at all?
Doesn’t reject how theists speak about God