Religious Language - VIA NEGATIVA

Question 1

VIA NEG - Intro

Answer 1

philo problems…..
well known approach=VN/apophatic way

claims= bc words unable to adequately desc G, only poss statements NEG⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️

For some thinkers, Pseudo Dionysis + Maimonides, partial understanding = meaningful enough Ⓜ️
HOWEVER lack of substance💉+ useful means of talk abt G illustrates far from best

Question 2

VIA NEG - P1

Answer 2

COre idea = G beyond ability to desc
VN= aware danger of using human lang of G- imagine/picture human version of word📸👴🏻
some: awareness good (any lang used of G inev pictured in human terms, reducing G to human level)
-supp by PD pos statements risk anthro

☹️VN LIMITED KNOWLEDGE
1st- matter of debate which attributes wish to claim God is not- “not evil/weak” but equally say “not green/cat”🎾🐱
IN ADDITION- even if do agree, little actually said. many things could be desc as not evil/weak 🐼🐥
-
suggests to gain K use alt model- analogy - enable cautious
HOWEVER? still imp to preserve insight given by VN that G fund beyond desc and should be cautious x

Question 3

VIA NEG - P2

Answer 3

R.E.S.P.E.C.T! many thinkers in supp of VN- succ in way that there is no limit placed on G by giving point of ref within physical world. (📌of📝in🌍)
-e.g PD- way of conveying essential otherness of G + UNDERLINES belief he is not like us
-Maim-emphasis neg desc, ensure not improper
(as appr recog G as transc+wholly other to human realm, hence respectful)

by being “RESPECTFUL” = lose 🔑aspect of RL - means believer no means of comm w/ nonB about G🤡
Flew= if try to exp God as invisible🌫, soundless🔕, incorporeal little diff between our def of G and def of NOTHINGNESS!
Inge= denying any desc of G, annihilation of G (lose connection of G+🌍)
further emphasises analogy- respect+gain insight

Question 4

VIA NEG - P3

Answer 4

Fits w Rel Exp?- as perceived my those who exp them
as WJ observes- RE ineffible, cannot desc in ordinary lang🤐
-if this appr fits w this aspect of rel then ✔️?

HOWEVER WHEN EXAMINING THIS APPR- clear could not be any further out of line w religion in perspective of bviour!👎🏼

• most confounding way=VN not reflection of how believers speak/think abt G🗣🗣🗣
• mistakenly ignores fund aspect… FAITH🙏🏽does not have negative nature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so doesn’t express B’s feelings
• Holy Scriptures do make pos so suggests….