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Schleiermacher and Bonhoeffer as negative theologians: A Western response to some Eastern challenges
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Schleiermacher and Bonhoeffer as negative theologians: A Western response to some Eastern challenges

A.S. Jensen
St. Marks Review, Vol.215, pp.7-21
2011
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Abstract

In this paper, I present two different Eastern Orthodox understandings of apophaticism, as represented by the theologies of Vladimir Lossky and Christos Yannaras. I then suggest that the Western theological tradition has at least one strand within it that uses apophatic theology in the way in which Yannaras suggests it should be used. In particular, I identify Friedrich Schleiermacher and Dietrich Bonhoeffer as negative theologians and discuss their understanding of how we gain and communicate knowledge of God. I discuss briefly the role of the Holy Spirit in theology and make some concluding remarks. This may serve as a good introduction to a body of papers on the doctrine of God.

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