Abstract

GONZALEZ-SUAREZ, Lucero. Natural theology. revealed theology and mystic theology: Philosophical reflections. starting from Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint John of the Cross. Cuest. teol. [online]. 2021, vol.48, n.110, pp.324-342.  Epub May 04, 2022. ISSN 0120-131X.  https://doi.org/10.18566/cueteo.v48n110.a08.

What kind of discourse around God has preeminence? Is it theodicy, because of its strictly rational basis? Can it be said that the knowledge par excellence of the divine is theology, since it is a reflection that takes its principles from faith? Is it perhaps the mystical word, as an echo of a transforming encounter, which makes man God by participation? This article constitutes a phenomenological analysis of the origin, condition, scope and limits of such discourses, based on the work of Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint John of the Cross. The thesis to be demonstrated is that, while natural theology and revealed theology (whose masterful synthesis is the work of the former) are discourses on God, Christian mystical theology (which finds its culminating expression in the work of the mystical poet) is a discourse from God. Ultimately, the aim is to show that, because of its inspired origin and its supernatural condition, mystical theology is superior to both natural theology and revealed theology. From which it follows that, when the discourse is about the God of faith that comes to experience and not about the onto-theological concept of God, the only authoritative word is that of the mystic, since, as a witness to the faith, his teachings are fully in line with revelation.

Keywords : Theology; Mysticism; Natural theology; Revealed theology; Saint Thomas Aquinas; Saint John of the Cross; Metaphysics; God.

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