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Negative theology

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Speaking of God through negating limitations while resisting comprehension of essence.

Different methods may coexist; they cannot all be reduced to one metaphor or delegation
Different methods may coexist; they cannot all be reduced to one metaphor or delegationIL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Text

Guide I.58 discusses negative attributes: denying body or ignorance excludes mistaken conceptions without defining God’s essenceOusia — essenceGreek term for essence or nature, with meanings changing between authors.Glossary · Click to read the explanation as one defines things. [1]

This does not deny every divine act or worship. It differs from specifying metaphor, analogy and affirmation without modalityBi-lā kayfAffirming attribute language without specifying modality or creaturely likeness.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, although some tools coexist in one author.

References and notes

  1. Moses Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed I.1, I.58, trans. M. Friedländer (1904) Lexicographical chapter list; I.1 and I.58 on image and negative attributes. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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IL Archive, «Negative theology», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/negative-theology