Exploring the Limits of Discourse on God: Avoiding Extremes and Embracing Nuance
By
Adis Duderija, New Age Islam
7 March
2024
By Embracing The Mystery, Acknowledging Diverse
Perspectives, And Promoting Tolerance, We Can Engage In Meaningful Discussions
That Enrich Our Understanding Of God And Foster Unity Among Diverse Religious
Traditions.
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The
question of God’s existence and nature has perplexed humanity for millennia.
While religious sceptics may argue that we cannot definitively prove or
disprove the existence of God, there is a middle ground that allows for
discourse and exploration while avoiding the pitfalls of absolute certainty or
complete ignorance. In this essay, I will discuss the three levels of
discourse about God, highlighting the importance of avoiding extreme
positions that lead to intolerance, idolatry, atheism, or agnosticism, and
instead embracing nuance and open-mindedness.
Level 1:
The Limitations of Verbal Formulas
At the
first level of discourse about God, we encounter the temptation to encapsulate
the divine within precise verbal formulas. This desire for certainty
stems from our inherent need to comprehend what is ultimately incomprehensible
in Its totality. However, such attempts fall short, as the divine transcends
human language and understanding. The greatest conceivable being, often
associated with God, eludes complete comprehension and cannot be reduced to a
simple formula devoid of doubt or obscurity.
To
illustrate this point, let us consider the various religious traditions and
their diverse conceptions of God. Each tradition provides a unique perspective,
reflecting the cultural and historical context from which it emerged.
Attempting to capture the entirety of the divine within a single verbal formula
not only oversimplifies the complexity of God but also ignores the richness and
diversity of human experiences and interpretations of the divine.
Level 2:
Embracing the Mystery
The second
level of discourse acknowledges the limitations of language and our
intellectual capacities when it comes to understanding God. This perspective
recognizes that we are not entirely in the dark regarding what to say about
God. While we cannot fully comprehend the divine, we can still engage in
meaningful dialogue, contemplation, and exploration.
Within this
level of discourse, apophaticism
takes centre stage. Apophatic
theology emphasizes the negation of human concepts and attributes when
attempting to describe God. Rather than ascribing limited human characteristics
to the divine, apophaticism acknowledges the transcendence and ineffability of
God. This approach encourages humility and acknowledges that our understanding
of God is always incomplete.
At the same
time, it is essential to avoid the extreme of aggressive apophaticism, which
denies any positive statements about God. Such an extreme would lead to a
negation of the religious experience altogether, pushing individuals towards
atheism or agnosticism. By embracing the mystery and recognizing the limits of
our understanding, we can maintain an openness to the possibility of the divine
while acknowledging the inadequacy of our descriptions.
Level 3:
Navigating the Path of Nuance
The third
level of discourse seeks to strike a balance between the extremes of absolute
certainty and complete ignorance. This level acknowledges that while we cannot
fully comprehend God, we can engage in nuanced discussions that consider
multiple perspectives and embrace diversity.
Within this
level, it is essential to address the potential pitfalls associated with
religious discourse. Intolerance arises when adherents of a particular
religious tradition claim to possess the only valid formula for understanding
God, dismissing alternative perspectives as invalid or heretical. This
narrow-mindedness stifles dialogue and perpetuates division and conflict.
Similarly,
idolatry emerges when individuals become fixated on their own limited
understanding of God, failing to recognize the vastness and depth of the
divine. By reducing the divine to a simplistic representation, they risk
worshiping an incomplete and distorted image of God.
In the
quest to understand God, it is crucial to navigate the complexities of
discourse with nuance and open-mindedness. While we should avoid the extremes
of absolute certainty or complete ignorance, we must recognize the limitations
of human language and understanding when it comes to comprehending the divine.
By embracing the mystery, acknowledging diverse perspectives, and promoting
tolerance, we can engage in meaningful discussions that enrich our
understanding of God and foster unity among diverse religious traditions.
As we
embark on this journey of exploration, let us remember that the search for God
is a deeply personal and subjective endeavour. Each individual’s understanding
and relationship with the divine are unique. By approaching this discourse with
humility, respect, and a willingness to learn
from one another, we can create an environment that encourages growth,
understanding, and a shared appreciation for the many facets of the divine.
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A
decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in
the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social
Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue,
Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books
are ( co-edited)- Shame, Modesty, and
Honora in Islam and Interfaith
Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer)
URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/exploring-discourse-god-embracing-nuance/d/131864
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