Negative Theology and Meaningless Suffering

Kilby, KE

doi:10.1111/moth.12577

Negative Theology and Meaningless Suffering

Kilby, KE

Authors

Professor Karen Kilby karen.kilby@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

This article attempts an exploration of the limits of our capacity to weave suffering into patterns of meaning. I try to show that something like an apophatic moment in our response to some kinds of suffering is both necessary and difficult to sustain. From this emerges a question about the relationship between this ‘something like apophasis’ before suffering, on the one hand, and unknowing in face of the mystery of God, on the other. I argue against a tendency in some modern theology to elide one into the other – against a tendency to absorb the ‘mystery of suffering’ into the ‘mystery of God.’ The article concludes with the suggestion that in order to avoid such an elision, and other forms of false reconciliation with suffering, Christian theology needs to maintain a commitment to a future‐oriented eschatology, a real – if unimaginable – eschatological hope.

Citation

Kilby, K. (2020). Negative Theology and Meaningless Suffering. Modern Theology, 36(1), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12577

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Oct 9, 2018
Online Publication Date	Nov 10, 2019
Publication Date	2020-01
Deposit Date	Oct 9, 2018
Publicly Available Date	Nov 10, 2021
Journal	Modern Theology
Print ISSN	0266-7177
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	36
Issue	1
Pages	92-104
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12577

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Kilby, K E (2020). Negative Theology and Meaningless Suffering. Modern Theology 36(1): 92-104, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12577. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.