Next to Nothing
A Theology from Outside
- Theology
- Publisher: Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2024
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Publisher's Description
A lesser-known tradition in theology--the apophatic--has resurfaced in our time. Simply stated, this tradition has long recognized that discussion of what God is not is central to theological discernment. The apophatic emphasis on giving the negative its due has been rediscovered and enlarged today in several ways. Above all, this theological orientation warrants our radical questioning and honors the importance of doubt. It also leads us to greater awareness of our hidden fears of loss and of the costs of our unconscious flight from death. At the same time, it can open the door to new perceptions of what lay persons--as well as theologians such as Eckhart and Tillich--have understood as our deepest relationship to the God beyond God. This development is significant for those in progressive faith communities, for those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious," and those who assume that religion and spirituality have no place in their lives.
Endorsements (3)
“James Champion invites us to find rest, freedom, and wisdom in doing theology humbly. We cannot comprehend God with finite minds and words, much less pick God’s brain. Our truest communication with the divine begins in silence. In the experience of God’s absence, including our suffering and our dying, we begin to know God’s presence. Apart from formulas, icons, and idols, we listen in silence—and find reason to dance, kneel, love, and be loved.”
“This is the kind of theological writing I most appreciate. It is personal, yet not overly self-referential. It is informed by current cultural issues without simply rehashing prevalent critical trends. James Champion’s book demonstrates wide-ranging reflections on classic sources without venture into pedantic minutia. His reading of Paul Tillich is especially worthy of note in this regard. Most of all, Champion makes you think about your own experience of life in ways different than perhaps you have done before.”
“This book is a joy to read. Next to Nothing is nourishing, deep water for the thirsty soul. James Champion takes the reader on a journey through some of the most profound insights of the humanities and the social sciences as he demonstrates that religion is a viable path to discovering the most profound and constructive elements of our humanity. Religion is not doomed to be a destructive force but can open up better horizons when seen through the lens of existential and apophatic theology.”
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