Via Negativa

Question 1

Where did Via Negativa originate?

Answer 1

6th C mystic Pseudo-Dionysius - it is the only meaningful way to talk about God

Question 2

What is Via Negativa?

Answer 2

God is beyond human understanding, and therefore He must be spoken through negative terms

Question 3

What is the problem with saying ‘God is Good’?

Answer 3

This is in relation to human attributes and God is more than human good

Question 4

What did Moses Maimonidies contribute?

Answer 4

Analogy of the Ship

Question 5

What is the analogy of a ship?

Answer 5

You may know of a ‘ship’ but not its actual properties, if one stays the ship is not by accident, not a plant you’ll eventually get closer to the true properties of a ship - God is the same

Question 6

Why is using Via Negativa meaningful?

Answer 6

It helps you move closer to appreciating what God is

Question 7

What did Libby Ahluwalia contribute?

Answer 7

We must go beyond our normal experiences in order to experience God and that it does not limit God to give him a point of reference in the physical world

Question 8

What are the criticisms of Via Negativa?

Answer 8

Brian Davies: you cannot use the process of elimination without knowing the different possibilities first

Analogy of a room: If you ask someone to guess what is in it, but reject all suggestions you end up with no idea, therefore analogy of the ship is pointless

Anthony Flew: if we describe God as ‘invisible’ ‘immutable’ ‘soundless’ etc, we are describing nothing

Question 9

What does Via Negativa mean?

Answer 9

It is Latin for negative theology

Question 10

What is anthropomorphism?

Answer 10

Give Gid human-like attributes

Question 11

What does Anselm say about Via Negativa?

Answer 11

God is wholly simple and therefore it is better to remain silent in the mystery that is God