A Multifaceted And Quranic Based Approach to Negative and Positive Theology

"Negative theology" and "positive theology" are usually introduced as two opposing epistemic and linguistic theories or approaches to God and His attributes in relation to man. Negative theology considers God and His attributes to be unknowable and not expressible in words by man, and positive theology considers God and His attributes to be knowable and expressible in words. According to this article, negative and positive theologies, in addition to epistemic and linguistic dimensions or aspects, also include ontological and pragmatic dimensions and aspects. This article, by using a descriptive and analytical method and by citing some evidences from the views of some prominent philosophers and theologians of the West, first, tries to establish and justify the four dimensions of a negative and positive theology. And then, tries to introduce a multifaceted theology based on the verses of the Holy Quran, with epistemological, linguistic, pragmatic, and ontological aspects. This theology, in all of its aspects, is negative towards the Essence and Essential Attributes of God but positive towards the Names of God. According to the positive multifaceted Qur'anic theological approach adopted in this article, the first step for man's relationship with God is cognitive.