The cataphatic way

• What is the cataphatic way?

  The view we can only use positive terms to describe God
• Who supported the cataphatic way?

  Aquinas
• What did Aquinas say about describing good?

  When we speak positively of God we are using an analogy and not saying something that is literally true
• What is univocal language?

  The word used has one meaning eg bookcase
• What is equivocal language?

  The same word is used in two different ways, eg ‘table’ could mean one for dining or one for maths
• Why does Aquinas reject using univocal language to describe God?


  It makes him too small and doesn’t convey his greatness and mystery
• Why does Aquinas reject equivocal language?


  It is not helpful in communicating about God as there are too many misunderstandings
• What is Aquinas’ two analogies?

  Analogy of Proportionality

  Analogy of Attribution
• What is the analogy of proportionality?

  The words relate to objects that are different in proportion

  Eg a toddler may be clever compared to other toddlers but not compared to a scientist

  So if we use words such as ’loving‘ to describe God, we must recognise his love is on a different scale to our own
• What is Aquinas’ analogy of attribution?

  There is a causal relationship between the two things being described

  Eg a cake is called ’sickly’ because of how it makes someone feel

  When we speak of God we are using the analogy of attribution. Aquinas said God is loving etc in his essence, whereas everything else is loving as it participates in the essence of God
• Who supports the analogy of proportionality?

  John Hick
• Who talks about models and qualifiers?

  Ramsay
• What does Ramsay say?

  We can use models to speak of God - words we understand because of human experience

  We must also use qualifiers such as ’perfectly’ to not limit him and recognise he is different to us