Sin and it's Relationship to Apophatic Theology

GreekOrthodox said:

Apophatic theology plays a certain role is as stated by John Scotus Erigena, "We do not know what God is. God Himself does not know what He is because He is not anything [i.e., "not any created thing"]. Literally God is not, because He transcends being."

St. Cyril said "For we explain not what God is but candidly confess that we have not exact knowledge concerning Him. For in what concerns God to confess our ignorance is the best knowledge."

So we can say, "God is Good." but in all honesty, we do not know what "Good" means to God. We only know what "Good" is in our very limited capacity. God is Love? Only God, in the person of Jesus Christ, the God-Man, showed was what true agape, boundless Love is, through his Death and Resurrection. All we can do is stand at the Cross, and wondering how the Immortal became Mortal and then rose from the grave.

One hymn that @The Liturgist references is this, read near the end of the Great Hours on the morning of Great Friday:

Today he who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon a Tree,
The King of the Angels is crowned with thorns.
He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in mocking purple.
He who freed Adam in the Jordan receives a slap on the face.
The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails.
The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a lance.
We bow to your passion, O Christ (bow).
We bow to your passion, O Christ (bow).
We bow to your passion, O Christ (bow).
Show us also your glorious Resurrection.

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Thatgirloncfforums said:

My pastor appreciates athiesm on this score. We both are big into the 'Hidden God'.

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Landon Caeli said:

To paraphrase the writings of Pseudo Dionysius, and Clement of Alexandria, we can't really understand, or observe the nature of God, since He's "unknowable", so it is through "unknowing" that we can begin to approach the God-Head.

So in other words, it is by unknowing the things that are not God, such as sin, that we begin to grow closer to God... This is what is known as the "Negative Way", or Apophatic Theology.
Apophatic theology - Wikipedia

I was curious if others had already contemplated these concepts, and if you have, maybe you have some opinions or additions you would like to share about understanding God the "Negative Way".

Thanks... And have a great day.

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Rosa Celeste: Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest Heaven

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