Apophatic theology, or negative theology, attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. It is a way of coming to an understanding of who God is which has played a significant role across centuries of Christian tradition but is very often treated with suspicion by those engaging in theological study today. Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of spirituality. Beginning by placing apophatic spirituality within its biblical roots, the book later considers the key pioneers of apophatic faith and a diverse range of thinkers including CS Lewis and Keats - to inform us in our negative theological journey.

Apophatic theology attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of spirituality.

Janet Williams

Seeking the God Beyond

About the Artist

Preface

Introduction

PART 1: Biblical Roots

Moses: The Fire and the Cloud

The Song of Songs

John the Baptist, Apophatic Prophet

Jesus: Word and Silence

PART 2: Biblical Roots

Stripping

Ascent

Unsaying

Union

PART 3: Biblical Roots

Gregory of Nyssa

The Dionysian Corpus

Meister Eckhart

Nicholas of Cusa

PART 4: Allies on the Journey

Athens

Keats' Negative Capability

Narnia

Zen's 'Don't-Know Mind'

PART 5: Apophatic Practices

Exuberance: Saying and Unsaying in Parable and Poetry

Pilgrimage

Liturgy

Prayer 'in the Cave of the Heart'

Afterword

Acknowledgements of Sources

Index of Biblical References

Index of Names and Subjects

Apophatic theology, or negative theology, attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. It is a way of coming to an understanding of who God is which has played a significant role across centuries of Christian tradition but is very often treated with suspicion by those engaging in theological study today.   
  
Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of spirituality. Beginning by placing apophatic spirituality within its biblical roots, the book later considers the key pioneers of apophatic faith and a diverse range of thinkers including CS Lewis and Keats - to inform us in our negative theological journey.

\- Demystifies an area of theology which is often daunting for those undertaking early theological study or training for ordination - Clear and engaging in style, and putting the tradition into direct conversation with contemporary faith, demonstrating its practical use within eveyday spirituality. - The author has lectured widely on the subject

This is a timely and very accessible book for an age desperately needing depth as well as direction. The Apophatic way of faith is simply life changing. At the place where words and imagination must rightly fail, the Apophatic way guides us into the inexpressible mystery and presence of the living God.

'This is an important, timely and delightful book. Janet Williams carries deep learning with grace and style. Her book is packed with a deeply human wisdom and yet points to something far greater and much more glorious. Here is the God who can truly save us from ourselves.'

The sub-title is 'A Beginner's Guide to Christian Apophatic Spirituality,' and it is exactly that, an overview of the via negativa, a way to reach God by discovering what he is not rather than what he is. I found it a theological page-turner, leading on from the biblical roots starting with Moses, the Song of Songs and John the Baptist to Jesus; these texts are revisited in succeeding chapters: an explanation of the 'negative way'; exponents such as St John of the Cross and Meister Eckhart; a fascinating description of related topics, Paul in Athens, Keats' Negative Capability, the books of Narnia and Zen Buddhism; finally apophatic content in practices such as pilgrimage, liturgy and prayer. There are useful addenda such as the need for spiritual emptying and humility in the Afterword, and also further reading. You will gather that it is very wide-ranging, indeed breath-taking in its compass, but it is in direct language and easy to read. I would say it is essential for those engaged in spiritual direction and otherwise highly recommended for all.

'...the thrust and tenor will be seen as a welcome ally to those of us who despair at the way in which churches so often seem to want to deliver a God packaged in doctrinal terms where explanation has superseded the experience of the divine. Echoes persist throughout the book of Tillich's 'Ground of all being' and Julian of Norwich's emphasis on love capturing the meaning of God. Those readers less convinced of the existential reality of God might nevertheless warm to this approach of inward contemplation and a hatching of the heart.'

Contents: Preface Introduction: Speak of Me as I Am Part 1 Biblical Roots - Moses: The Fire and the Cloud - The Song of Songs - John the Baptist, Apophatic Prophet - Jesus: Word and Silence Part 2 The 'Negative Way' - Stripping - Ascent - Unsaying - Union Part 3 Pioneers of Apophatic Faith - Gregory of Nyssa - The Dionysian Corpus - Meister Eckhart - Nicholas of Cusa Part 4 Allies on the Journey - Athens - Keats' Negative Capability - Narnia - Zen's 'Don't-Know Mind' Part 5 Apophatic Practices - Exuberance: Saying and Unsaying in Parable and Poetry - Pilgrimage - Liturgy - Prayer 'in the Cave of the Heart' Afterword: Running Towards a Stone Tomb

\["For theology readers","This book helps you grasp Apophatic Spirituality's understanding-by-negation","You'll discover how Apophatic Spirituality seeks transcendence from human understanding"\]

A form of understanding God through negative theology, discover how Apophatic Spirituality played a significant role in the thought and development of faith.

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Seeking the God Beyond

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