Johannes Aakjær Steenbuch, a philosophy PhD from the University of Copenhagen and author of "Negative Theology: A Short Introduction," explores intriguing theological concepts. He discusses the evolution of negative theology from early church fathers to modern thinkers like Kierkegaard. The conversation highlights how negative theology articulates God through what He is not, analyzes the divine nature’s incomprehensibility, and examines how concepts of nothingness in Meister Eckhart's thought relate to spiritual connection. This deep dive navigates complex ideas in theological history.
Negative theology defines God primarily through negation, emphasizing the divine incomprehensibility that shapes various theological discussions.
Key figures like Gregory of Nyssa and Meister Eckhart advanced negative theology by challenging conventional concepts of God and morality.
Deep dives
Understanding Negative Theology
Negative theology refers to a theological discourse that defines God through negation, emphasizing God's incomprehensibility and ineffability. This approach uses negative definitions, stating what God is not, such as God being infinite, invisible, and beyond human comprehension. The significance of negative theology lies in its assertion that all theological discussions must acknowledge the mysterious nature of God, serving as a counterpoint to positive definitions. As such, negative theology is not a standalone concept but an intrinsic aspect of various theological frameworks that attempt to grasp the divine.
Influential Thinkers in Negative Theology
Key figures in early negative theology include Philo of Alexandria, who is credited with introducing these ideas into philosophical discourse, focusing on the ineffable nature of God as illustrated by the story of Moses on Mount Sinai. His assertion that God is being itself and cannot be comprehended through language laid the groundwork for later thinkers. Similarly, early Christian apologists like Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria built upon and adapted these notions, emphasizing God's invisibility and transcendence in their theological arguments. This blending of Jewish and Hellenistic thought in early Christianity marked a significant evolution in how God was conceptualized as fundamentally beyond human understanding.
The Cappadocians and the Development of Negative Theology
The Cappadocian Fathers, particularly Gregory of Nyssa, were instrumental in developing negative theology during the fourth century, focusing on the concept of divine infinity as central to understanding God. They engaged with Neoplatonic ideas but emphasized a Christological perspective, arguing that human language about God does not capture God’s essence but instead reflects relational dynamics within the Trinity. Gregory's exploration of the narrative surrounding Moses highlighted that God is not only incomprehensible but that this incomprehensibility allows for a deeper relationship through divine revelation. Thus, the Cappadocians refined negative theology to defend Nicene orthodoxy while also providing a rich philosophical framework for understanding the divine mystery.
Eckhart's Radicalization of Negative Theology
Meister Eckhart further radicalized negative theology by proposing that God must be approached as a pure nothingness, challenging traditional notions of God as something concrete or definable. He argued that all attempts to conceptualize God result in idolatry, necessitating a detachment from every theological construct in order to experience the divine. This led to controversial views about morality and the nature of love, which Eckhart elevated to suggest that love is not the highest virtue when seeking unity with this ineffable God. His unique perspective resonated through various theological movements of the time, illustrating the complexities and divisiveness within Christian mystical traditions.
Johannes Aakjær Steenbuch received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Copenhagen with a dissertation on negative theology and ethics in Clement of Alexandria and Gregory of Nyssa. He is the author of Negative Theology: A Short Introduction (Cascade, 2022).
*The Theology Mill and Wipf and Stock Publishers would like to thank Luca Di Alessandro for making their song “A Celestial Keyboard” available for use as the podcast’s transition music. Link to license: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/.
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