Negative Theology

When you read of the great spiritual writers and guides, you will inevitably come across the terms 'apophatic' and 'c(k)ataphatic'.  Apophatic theology is a way of relating to God according to the belief that God cannot be conceptualized in human categories.  Cataphatic theology describes God from God's revelation that has been communicated to humanity.   It is the opposite to apophatic theology.


So apophatic or negative theology (Gr. Apophatikos, Negative) is a mystical way which transcends all concepts, images and ideas of God.   Contemplation must be abandoned in favour of the way of darkness.   The deeper the darkness, the greater the awareness of God's incomprehensibility.


The source text of negative theology or apophaticism is The Mystical Theology by a man called Dionysius the Areopagite.  (Also referred to as Pseudo-Denis/Dionysius.  For a long time  scholars thought this piece of writing to be the work of the Dionysius mentioned in Acts of Apostles (Acts 17:34) and so it was given huge attention and respect in the western medieval world.


Later scholarship in the 19th century began to question this.   There have been various theories as to who he really was and current scholarship identifies him as a 6th century Syrian monk.   Other writings by him are also in existence.  (The Celestial Hierarchy, The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, The Divine Names)
It is possible to buy these in collected form.


The headings from the Mystical Theology are an indication of some of his theological outlook: The Divine Dark, The Negative and Affirmative Theologies, and my own favourite title - The Pre-Eminient Cause of All That is Perceived by Sense Is Not Perceived By Sense. !!


It has been observed that the paradoxes and oxymorons characteristic of his writings are not unlike the self-contradictory axioms of Zen Buddhism.   It should be remembered that some of his other writings show the cataphatic approach to theology too and the other works need to be read with this in mind.


The way of darkness and going beyond what is known and unknown has influenced many of the great theologians and spiritual writers down the centuries.   It is the way of deep passivity through loving union with the unknowable God in the unknowable way of deep darkness.


Gregory of Nyssa writes of 'sober intoxication'. 'watchful sleeo', passionless passion' and 'dazzling darkness' showing him to be an advocate of negative theology.  And the influence of Dionysius and The Mystical Theology on spiritual writers in general down the centuries is impossible to miss.