RL- Apophatic and Cataphatic

Question 1

Define cognitive

Answer 1

When it’s appropriate to ask wthether the sentence is true or false

Question 2

Define non - cognitive

Answer 2

When it is not appropriate to ask ether a statement is true or false

Question 3

Key people 10

Answer 3

Dawkins
Origen
Gregory of nyssa
Pseudo Dionysius
John scouts eriugena
Moses Maimonides 
Aquinas 
W.R.Inge
Pierre tielhard de Chardonnay
Brian Davies
William James

Question 4

3 strengths of apophatic

Answer 4

Prevents anthropomorphic representations of God
More respectful approach- recognises God is transcendent and wholly other
Approach fits with how religious experiences are perceived by those who experience them particularly mysticism - William James - they are ineffable - can’t be described in ordinary language

Question 5

5 weakness of apophatic way

Answer 5

Givers is very limited knowledge of God - many things could ‘not’ be something

Doesn’t relegation how many religious brlivers speak or think about god - scriptures in all major faiths make postive statements

Means a believe has no way of communicating with a non- believer

W.R.Inge - denying description of God leads to annihilation - potentially lose connection with god

Brian Davies - talking in negative terms opens up numerous possibilities of what God could be- not defining at all

Question 6

What is the apophatic way

Answer 6

Via negativa - idea that language used to describe or talk of God should only be made in negative statements as we have no way of knowing what is true and would be inaccurate

Question 7

3 strengths of cataphatic way

Answer 7

Not univocal do avoids anthromphorphicly speaking of God
Not equivocal so avoids agnostiicism - idea that Gods nature and existence can’t be known

Aquinas - has to be postive in order to have philosophical or theology debates and descusions

Question 8

2 weaknesses of cataphatic way

Answer 8

allows us to interpret god on individual level - truth and

Question 9

Dawkins view on language

Answer 9

Regions statements are cognitive but are false

Question 10

Origen and Gregory of Nyssa view

Answer 10

argue that if we cannot know the mid and essence of any with his limited mind and language - we can never begin to understand God

Question 11

What does pseudo Dionysius say

Answer 11

Made a distinction between cataphatic and apophatic

Said CIA postive for attempt to use theological language to describe God