What is the difference between apophatic and Kataphatic?
Abstract: Catholicism distinguishes between two different approaches to spirituality. Apophatic, or “neg tive” spirituality stresses interiority, “imageless-ness” and “wordlessness.” Kataphatic, or “positive” spiritual ity is image-driven and uses analogies to speak of God.
What does the word cataphatic mean?
expression of God
Cataphatic meaning (theology) Pertaining to the expression of God in terms of what God is, rather than (apophatic) in terms of what God is not. adjective.
What is the opposite of apophatic?
Meaning of cataphatic in English Cataphatic theology involves defining or knowing God through positive statements. Opposite. apophatic.
What is apophatic prayer?
Apophatic theology, also known as negative theology, is a form of theological thinking and religious practice which attempts to approach God, the Divine, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God.
What is the Via Positiva?
The Via Positive (also known as the cataphatic way) is the argument that it is possible to make positive statements about God. This view, most notably supported by Aquinas argues that while human language may not be accurate, it can be indicative of the qualities of God.
Who came up with via negativa?
He developed further the ideas of the fourth-century Cappadocian fathers, particularly that of Gregory of Nyssa, but the term derives originally from the writings of the Neoplatonic philosopher Proclus (411–485). The writings of Dionysius were translated by John Scottus Eriugena (c.
What is affirmative theology?
According to the affirmative theology, every term that refers to the good and the beautiful in this world can be applied analogously to God: “God is good,” “God is love,” “God is light,” “God is truth.” Yet the seeker after God becomes aware that God transcends all qualities or attributes that are applied to the …
Is Buddhism apophatic?
Buddhism. In the Buddhist scriptures, Gautama Buddha is recorded as describing Nirvana in terms of what it is not. The apophatic, or via negativa philosophical methodology is extremely common in earliest existing Buddhist doctrine, the Nikayas: “There is, monks, an unborn—unbecome—unmade—unfabricated” (Udana VIII. 3).
What is Via Positiva and via negativa?
There are two methods by which change can be applied; an object can be transformed or a definition can be created. This is known as the Via Positiva (“positive way”) and the Via Negativa (“negative way”). Addition and subtraction are two paths to achieve improvement.
What are the 2 natures of Jesus?
…that Christ’s person has two natures: divine and human. Basing this Christological issue on a psychological analysis of personality, he believed that the human and divine natures were some kind of union, as between body and soul.
What is the meaning of the word cataphatic?
The word “cataphatic” comes from the Greek “kataphasis” meaning affirmation. To take the Cataphatic Way is to affirm things positively of God and to assume a univocal understanding of words and claims. By this approach, if somebody says “God is good”, they mean much the same as if they said “St Anselm is good”.
What is the difference between cataphatic and apophatic theology?
Cataphatic theology or kataphatic theology is theology that uses ” positive ” terminology to describe or refer to the divine – specifically, God – i.e. terminology that describes or refers to what the divine is believed to be, in contrast to the “negative” terminology used in apophatic theology to indicate what it is believed the divine is not.
Which is the best way to take the cataphatic way?
To take the Cataphatic Way is to affirm things positively of God and to assume a univocal understanding of words and claims. By this approach, if somebody says “God is good”, they mean much the same as if they said “St Anselm is good”.
Is the kataphatic way the only way to know God?
In the Eastern Orthodox Church kataphatic theology can lead to some knowledge of God but in imperfect way. The perfect way and the only way which is fitting in regard of God is the Apophatic way, as the Kataphatic way has as its object that which exist, but God is beyond all existing.
