Question about a statement

[Tous_Logous]

I am not sure if this is more of a philosophical or moral statement or not, but I was wondering if the following statement is true in Catholic understanding: “God is unknowable, but approachable.”

It seems simple enough, but I’m sure it could be turned into an entire philosophical discussion. I am just wondering what the official Catholic understanding of this statement is, since I am not too educated in Catholic theology or philosophy at the moment.

 

[JRKH]

Just a quick stab…
I’m not sure if the Church has a position on such a statement…It might depend on what the context of it is.

For myself…I think God is both knowable and not knowable. He is most definitely approachable.
Now there are different schools of thought on how this works. In the West rationalism - Thomism - is very popular. In the east the more mystical approach is generally taken.
Of course the West has a number of great saints in the mystical tradition…and I am sure that the East contains a number of people who prefer the more rational approach (I’m not that familiar with the Eastern Churches).

Each approach has it’s advantages and allows one to get to know God. But at the same time - can one completely know that which is infinite?
Also - each approach allows us to grow in holiness and growing in holiness IS approaching God…and Union with Him.

Just some thoughts…

Peace
James

 

[Bahman]

“God is unknowable, but approachable.”

Approachability means the possibility of experiencing it. Experience God however doesn’t mean that we could understand or know it.

 

[Starrsmother]

I am not sure if this is more of a philosophical or moral statement or not, but I was wondering if the following statement is true in Catholic understanding: “God is unknowable, but approachable.”

It seems simple enough, but I’m sure it could be turned into an entire philosophical discussion. I am just wondering what the official Catholic understanding of this statement is, since I am not too educated in Catholic theology or philosophy at the moment.

I don;t know of any official statement by the Church, but I agree that it sounds like some college “Philosophy 101” kind of thing that is basically an argument about semantics. Obviously we cannot truly “know” God as long as we are still alive. To “know” someone implies that we at least can recognize and understand what the object we “know” is. We can’t wrap our human minds around who or what God is because as humans, to do so is above our pay grade. If we get into the concept of 3 in 1–the Trinity–that can only be accepted in faith. Also, “knowing” implies an understanding of how something or someone thinks and approaches things. Having said that, an argument could be made that we do know God if we define “knowing” as simply having a relationship with that person, place or thing, can recognize the same if we are in their presence etc, can name characteristics of the same (such as all good, all love, a father, a son, a spirit, etc.) I guess it would boil down to how tight a definition we use for the word “know”.

Anyway you look at it however, God knows us. God is certainly approachable–infact we must approach God if we are to be saved. We approach God in church, in prayer, in acts of charity and in how we live our lives. Jesus told us exactly how we should go about approaching God in many ways, including by His example and in the prayer, the Our Father.