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Apophatism

Description:

Apophatism, also known as negative theology, is a philosophical and theological approach that emphasizes the limitation of human language and concepts in expressing the nature of God or the divine. It is the practice of describing God through negation, by stating what God is not, as opposed to positive statements.

Senses:

1. Philosophical Sense: Apophatism in philosophy refers to the use of negative statements in defining or understanding abstract concepts or entities.
2. Theological Sense: Apophatism in theology signifies the belief that God is ineffable and beyond human comprehension, and therefore can only be described by stating what God is not.

Sample Sentences:

1. As a philosophical concept, apophatism asserts that defining existence through negation leads to a better understanding of abstract ideas.
2. Theologians often turn to apophatism to acknowledge the limitations of human language and intellect when it comes to explaining the nature of God.
3. In apophatic theology, it is believed that our understanding of God is limited, and the best way to approach God is through recognizing what we cannot say about him.

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