Seeking the God Beyond: A Beginner’s Guide to Christian Apophatic Spirituality - Softcover

Williams, J. P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1532685769 ISBN 13: 9781532685767

Publisher: Cascade Books, 2019

Synopsis

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. This book seeks to introduce students 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 C. S. Lewis and Keats, to inform us in our negative theological journey.

A final section explores what difference a negative theological approach might make to our practice and our liturgy.

About this title

About the Author

J. P. Williams is the West of England Ministry Training Course Dean at Ripon College Cuddesdon. She has taught Philosophy, Religious Studies/Theology, and Buddhism in a range of universities and colleges in both Japan and England.

Review

"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."

--David Runcorn, priest

"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."

--David Hoyle, Dean of Bristol

"The subtitle 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's 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 breathtaking 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."

--John Foxlee, "The Reader, Winter edition"

Edition details

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1532685769
• ISBN 13: 9781532685767
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 216