The Cross and the Abysmal Madness of God: Foucault and Apophatic Theology
Today, the cross has lost much of its scandalous nature through explanations ranging from atonement theories to the cross as a mechanism for state-sponsored violence to inspire a social justice rallying cry. In reality, neither of these are "untrue" about the symbolic function of the cross...
| Published in: | The international journal of religion and spirituality in society |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Common Ground Publishing
2018
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| In: |
The international journal of religion and spirituality in society
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| Further subjects: | B
Apophatic Theology
B Michel Foucault B Cross B History of Madness |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Today, the cross has lost much of its scandalous nature through explanations ranging from atonement theories to the cross as a mechanism for state-sponsored violence to inspire a social justice rallying cry. In reality, neither of these are "untrue" about the symbolic function of the cross, yet both broad theories limit the ways the cross scandalizes Christian theology. Foucault’s concept of power/knowledge is essential to the continued work of apophatic theology, especially when placed within the discourse on the madness of the cross in "History of Madness." Foucault does two rather unexpected yet profound readings of the cross through the lens of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 and an obscure text of Nicholas of Cusa, "On Wisdom." Foucault emphasizes that Christian theology and church practice have stripped the cross of its madness by bringing it in from the margins and making it absolutely knowable. The cross should stay on the margins, continuing its radical power to subvert our expectations with an emphasis on its madness and apophatic character |
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| ISSN: | 2154-8641 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The international journal of religion and spirituality in society
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.18848/2154-8633/CGP/v08i04/1-14 |