Mystical Theology Of Christianity Lossky Summary

In the first chapter of The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church Vladimir Lossky begins speaking of knowledge by comparing gnosticism to Christian knowledge. The clear difference between the two is that gnosticism has its ultimate goal in knowledge while Christianity seeks a union with God and deification wherein knowledge is provided. This union between man and God allows man to be purified and transformed by God in order to experience the revelation of God. It is not a formula or a secret knowledge to be acquired, but rather a deep personal experience based on a relationship that transcends all “knowledge” known to man.
Lossky continues to explain the ways of knowledge by referring to the writings of an unknown author who identified himself with Dionysius who was converted to Christianity upon the preaching of St. Paul. In the author’s writings he focuses on two theological methods or ways to “knowledge”, cataphatic or apophatic. Cataphatic theology has its focus on knowledge by affirmations, again knowledge being the main goal. However, apophatic relies on negations in which man is
The theological tradition of the Church doesn’t allow a separation between theology and mysticism since that would be simply diluting theology to a form of science. A doctrine to be understood and interpreted by man when in reality it is meant to be a living experience that requires the synergy between man and God. He also refers to the great fathers of the Church, St. Basil and St. Gregory of Nyssa. St. Basil affirmed this though of negation since he believed the divine and created essence couldn’t be truly expressed in concepts. Similarly St. Gregory of Nyssa states that every concept relative to God is like a false idol because it is dependent on what is natural to us in our “reality” and not based on what is true in God’s reality which is beyond our