Two Spiritual Approaches
“Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.”—Psalm 139:12.
Richard Rohr, in his daily emails, describes the two traditional approaches to God as “dark” and “light.” The more cognitive, formal, theological approach is called the kataphatic way. In it, we reach God by studying the divine, practicing an ascent to the sacred, and reaching for the light. This has been the most widely followed approach to God since the Protestant Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment. We could describe it as the way of knowledge or knowing God.
The other spiritual tradition or way of seeking God is the apophatic way, in which we move beyond words and rational knowing into silence. This is the contemplative approach to the mystery, the “not-knowing.” It is an emptying or descent into darkness, into the unknown sacred within.
Rohr emphasizes the importance of both ways of seeking God for a balanced spiritual life. Those whose personality type involves more thinking and sensing, and who make decisions based on concrete, rational facts, will be drawn to the kataphatic, or ascent, approach. Those whose personality leans more toward feeling and intuitive functions, who make decisions based on relationships and consider many connections and patterns, may be more drawn to the apophatic, or inward, emptying, or descending approach.
Many involved in spiritual direction suggest that we try to use the approach opposite our tendencies during Advent and Lent. For example, if we are a thinking person, we should try contemplative prayer. If we are a feeling and intuitive person, we should consider putting our toe in the water by studying our tradition, sacred Scripture, or the writings of significant theologians.
Just a suggestion to think or wonder about.
1Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditation, “Darkness and Light,” adapted from Richard Rohr’s Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality (Franciscan Media, 2008), pp. 115-116.