Here Be Dragons 1 : This Is Not God

Here Be Dragons: Lent Meditation 1 — This Is Not God (The Apophatic Way) Bishop Michael Hunn of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande introduces the first of three Lenten meditations, “Here Be Dragons,” exploring the apophatic way of faith beyond the “map” of confident religious language. He contrasts cataphatic theology, which makes positive statements about God, with apophatic practice, which clarifies what God is not and leads into silence, darkness, and mystery when words fail. Using images of stars, road signs, and medieval maps, he explains that God-language points rather than contains. Lent is presented as an apophatic season of stripping away comforts through fasting, self-denial, and simplification so attention can rest on God alone, with the Book of Job as a key biblical example. He closes with the church’s invitation to a holy Lent and shared silence.

For a good introduction to apophatic theology throughout Christian history check out : The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism by Denys Turner.

00:00 Welcome and Series Setup

00:39 Here Be Dragons Metaphor

01:43 Cataphatic God Talk

03:19 Signs and Star Pointers

06:09 Words Prepare Encounter

07:31 Entering the Apophatic Way

08:59 Lent as Stripping Away

10:42 Job at the Edge

13:40 On Not Fasting for Attention

14:31 Invitation to Silence