Denying Divinity: Apophasis in the Patristic Christian and Soto Zen Buddhist Traditions

Denying Divinity examines the 'negative theologies' of Christianity and Zen Buddhism. Using classic texts of both traditions, it argues that 'negative theology' is a form of spirituality with powerful contemporary appeal, offering an integration of traditional religious practices with an openness to experience beyond the limits of doctrine and rational thought.
The classical texts of Christianity and Zen Buddhism contain resources with potent appeal to contemporary spirituality. The apophatic, or negative, may offer a means to integrate the conservation of traditional religious practices and beliefs with an openness to experience beyond the limits of doctrine and of rational thought. This work argues for a new understanding of what is meant by apophatic theology, supported by extensive analysis of the texts of Dionysius the Areopagite, St Maximus the Confessor, and Zen Master Dogen. It demonstrates how an apophatic spirituality might inform personal and communal spiritual development; and sketches out the contribution it can offer to modern debate on theology and postmodernism, entropy, and interfaith dialogue, and to development of an active theological commitment to humanity.