13. Internationaler Kongress für Lutherforschung: Seminar 1

Knut Alfsvåg
Luther and the apophatic tradition
Luther und die apofatische Tradition

Luther knew this tradition well and commented on some of its central texts several times. How deep is the influence from apophaticism on his thought? Is there; e. g., a relation between his appropriation and this tradition and his approach to the problem of Deus absconditus? What is the relation between apophaticism and Luther’s theology of the cross? And how does Luther’s take on these issues related to the postmodern renewal of some of the key insights of apophaticism?

In exploring these and similar issues, contributions to this seminar may take different shapes. One could comment on Luther texts where he directly refers to, e. g., Dionysius, either from Operationes or the earlier lectures. One could investigate Luther’s understanding of divine hiddenness and/or divine revelation in light of apophaticism. Or one could compare Luther’s approach to negative theology to earlier or later thinkers who have discussed similar issues, e. g., Bonaventure, Nicholas of Cusa, Kierkegaard or some of the postmoderns. Either way, this should make for interesting and fruitful discussions.

Seminar languages / Seminarsprachen: English and German.

13. Internationaler Kongress für Lutherforschung