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. ------ 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. ---- 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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism