Positive or ‘cataphatic’ theology, the ‘way of affirmation,’ must always be balanced and corrected by the employment of negative language.
The word apophatic comes from the Greek word apophasis, meaning negation.
causing "outright reticence in approaching certain matters."
positive statements about God, that He is good, wise, just and so on, are true as far as they go, yet they cannot adequately describe the inner nature of the deity. These positive statements, said John of Damascus, reveal ‘not the nature, but the things around the nature.'
http://www.geocities.com/stainlesskings888/apophatic.html
As far as examples go, you can't get any more celestial than the last one. But suddenly I'm interested in the cataphatic. Although I won't be using that word in the bar.
Did I end my notes on a cataphatic or apophatic level? I guess it's a sort of response. . . to say, "god damn, fuck you absolutism. there are too many adjectives and adverbs in your world, they don't anchor me. But you're alright. Just stay away from my children."
Works for me. Let's see. Who should be my apophatic, and what should be my cataphatic? (a) Brendle, (b) the farm
maybe the climax will end with the farm opening up and shooting flames up into the sky, and something that belongs to his mother will break and Brendle will fess up to breaking it. Or try and scam the system.
But you DID use that word in the bar. Remember? Everybody was confused. Even you.
Posted by: Joy at May 22, 2004 4:15 PMAh yes. It was after the third or fourth rye and coke, during a lull in the conversation. The word came up several times afterwards, although I was never able to pronounce it correctly.
Remember trying to start an orgy on the bed? "Just let your inhibitions go."
Posted by: matt at May 23, 2004 9:29 AM