Cataphatic 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.
Cataphatic theology is a method of describing God using positive attributes and language, such as “God is love” or “God is righteous”. This approach uses affirmations and imagery to speak about God’s nature, relying on scripture and creation to make positive statements about who God is and how God acts. It stands in contrast to apophatic theology, which uses negative statements to describe God by what He is not.
Key aspects of cataphatic theology
- Positive affirmations: This method focuses on what God is, rather than what God is not. It uses words and concepts that are familiar to humans, such as love, justice, and power, to express divine attributes.
- Biblical basis: Cataphatic theology draws heavily from scriptural passages that offer direct affirmations about God’s nature, such as “God is love” (1 John 4:8) or “The LORD is righteous in all His ways” (Psalm 145:17).
- Use of symbols and imagery: It employs symbols and analogies from the physical world to help people draw closer to a spiritual reality. This can include using metaphors, images, and stories to represent God.
- Foundation for worship: By providing positive statements about God’s nature, cataphatic theology provides a basis for worship, prayer, and devotion. Praising God as good, just, or faithful helps strengthen a believer’s faith.
- Examples in practice: Engaging in practices like reciting the rosary, using vocal prayers, or reading sacred texts are forms of cataphatic prayer because they use words and forms to connect with God.
Relationship with apophatic theology
- Cataphatic and apophatic theology are often seen as complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
- While cataphatic theology uses positive language to describe God, it is limited because God ultimately transcends human comprehension.
- Apophatic theology acknowledges this limitation by stating what God is not (e.g., God is not limited, God is not a human).
- Some traditions view cataphatic prayer as a starting point that can lead to a deeper, more apophatic experience of the divine.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://biblehub.com/q/define_cataphatic_theology..htm
[2] https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Cataphatic_theology
[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/cataphatic-theology.html
[4] https://www.facebook.com/groups/ask.about.the.orthodox.faith/posts/1873101942710400/
[6] https://religionsdepths.com/apophatic-theology-and-kataphatic-theology/
[8] http://www.ldysinger.com/@themes/apoph-kat/01_apo-kata.htm
[9] https://macblog.mcmaster.ca/visionarywomen/2015/04/30/some-terminology/
[12] https://www.theopedia.com/cataphatic-theology
[13] https://religiousaffections.org/publishing/religious-affections-52-week-catechism/
[15] https://frankritchie.substack.com/p/cataphatic-and-apophatic-christian