cataphatic, a. Theol.
(kætəˈfætɪk)
[ad. Gr. καταϕατικ-ός affirmative (καταϕῆναι to assent).]
Defining God positively or by positive statements, opp. apophatic a.
| 1869 [see apophatic a.]. 1937 Wall & Adamson tr. Maritain's Degrees Knowl. iv. 291 It is clear..that apophatic theology, which knows God by the mode of negation or ignorance, knows him better than cataphatic theology, which proceeds by that of affirmation and science. 1951 Theology LIV. 29 In an end age he [sc. Berdyaev] turned..from a cataphatic to an apophatic theology. |
Hence cataˈphatically adv.
| 1937 Wall & Adamson tr. Maritain's Degrees Knowl. iv. 297 Theological faith..must first advance cataphatically, making known the mysteries of the Godhead to us in communicable enunciations. |