Divine Foreknowledge (choice, experience, God)

[No*s]

I firmly agree, God is a paradox. There is a limit to apophatic statements where we still run up against a wall and can't understand it .

[lilithu]

?There is a limit to apophatic statements where we still run up against a wall and can't understand it .[/quote]Well, unless you're lucky enough to have a book of revealed truths or a tradition that somehow is in tune with God's will, there are even fewer cataphatic statements that can be made about God.

I actually prefer the apophatic to the cataphatic, because ultimately it is still less limiting. Any positive statement limits more than a negative one. As Hinduism says when describing God, Neti, Neti. Not this. Not that.

addendum:
I should add that there is a difference between using apophatic statements to describe our perception of God's nature and making positive statements about what God cannot do.

[No*s]

Well, unless you're lucky enough to have a book of revealed truths or a tradition that somehow is in tune with God's will, there are even fewer cataphatic statements that can be made about God. [/quote]

Well, you never know....

Originally Posted by lilithu

I actually prefer the apophatic to the cataphatic, because ultimately it is still less limiting. Any positive statement limits more than a negative one. As Hinduism says when describing God, Neti, Neti. Not this. Not that.

So does Eastern Christianity. Our view is that we may only make a catophatic statement on the basis of Scripture, tradition, or some other revelation. This is discouraged except in those cases where it has been accepted by the Church (the Trinity, the reason behind the crucifixion, etc.) or when we really need to get more specific to combat heresy (such as was the case with Arianism, for example).

So, at this point, we are in agreement. The difference that changes our perception of God so, is that holy book, revelation, Church, tradition, etc. . This seems to be becoming a pattern in many ways lol.

Originally Posted by lilithu

addendum:
I should add that there is a difference between using apophatic statements to describe our perception of God's nature and making positive statements about what God cannot do.

Yes, I have been saying "God cannot..." and that terminology is inaccurate. Thank you for your correction. It's so easy to slip into something like that .

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by No*s

So, at this point, we are in agreement. The difference that changes our perception of God so, is that holy book, revelation, Church, tradition, etc. . This seems to be becoming a pattern in many ways lol.

I can live with that. I actually envy your revelation/tradition. But I can not believe in what I do not believe in. It's like trying to love a person that you know is a good person but you just don't love. if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by No*s

Yes, I have been saying "God cannot..." and that terminology is inaccurate. Thank you for your correction. It's so easy to slip into something like that .

Hey, I've done it many times. How else would I recognize it?

[No*s]

Originally Posted by lilithu

I can live with that. I actually envy your revelation/tradition. But I can not believe in what I do not believe in. It's like trying to love a person that you know is a good person but you just don't love. if that makes sense.

I understand that. I feel belief is a synergy between the rational/irrational sides of our nature. Either one can tip the scale into trust...but it never feels right until both sides jump on board.

Originally Posted by lilithu

Hey, I've done it many times. How else would I recognize it?

Then I am most certanly in very good company .